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LEGENDS OF FAIRY LAND 





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CASSELL & COMPANY, Limited 


NEW YORK, LONDON & PARIS. 



LEGENDS OF FAIRY LAND 


BY 



MKS. ANNA BACHE, 


It 


Author of, The Firescreen; Little Clara; Stories rof 
Little Clara; Clara’s Amusements; The 
Sibyl’s Cave; Ac. Ac. 


“Ah I where are all the Fairies flown T 
Why ceased their merry reign? 

We're all bo dull and solemn grown, 

I wish they’d come again, 

'Mid lawns and bowers, when daylight’s done, 
Again to sport and play : 

There never has been any fun, 

Since Fairies went away.*’ 


Zittle Girl's Lament for the Airis#. 



CASSELL & COMPANY, Limited, 


NEW YORK, LONDON AND PARIS. 


Lji 


Copyright, 

1885 , 

By O. M. DUNHAM, 




CI> 





) 


PREFACE, 


^ presenting this little volunie to the 
world, (^. e., as many persons as choose 
to read it,) I do not know that I have 
much to say, except to specify the mines from 
which my materials were dug. 

Woman’s Wit is versified (taking great liber 
ties with the original) from a legend in the 
Volksmahrehen of Musaeus. Holand and May^ 
from another German tale, author unknown 
to me. The Enchanted Fig-Tree grew out of a 
dim reminiscence of something read in my 
childhood — French, I believe — but when, or 
by whom written, I never knew. The King’s 
Promise is a prosijication of Walter Scott’s ex- 
quisite Bridal of Triermain, I was induced to 



till 


PREFA CE. 


give it a juvenile dress, because, when relating 
it to children, I always found it a favorite 
story. Yet it seems like laying a profane hand 
on the Ark of Genius, to alter anything that 
he wrote ; and while looking over the poem to 
refresh my remembrance of the incidents, 1 
thought of ITero, who decapitated the statues 
of great men, and placed his own likeness on 
their shoulders. 

The Rival Fairies^ and the fable of the Nee- 
dle and the Rosebush^ are, so far as I know, all 
my own. I say, so far as I know ; for I believe 
that often, what we think originality is merely 
unconscious recollection, escaping, like the Ge- 
nius in the Arabian Nights^ vapory and unde- 
fined from the unsealed vase of Memory, and 
condensing into shape while the thinker gazes 
on it. 


Philadelphia, 


ANhTA BAOHE 



I. 

PAOl 


The Rival Fairies 11 

II. 

The Needle and the Rosebush: A Fable 39 

III. 

Woman’s Wit* or, The Captive/ Princess 65 

IV. 


The Three Talismans; or, The Enchanted 
Fig-Tree 69 

V. 

Roland and May; or. The Transformations 102 

VI. 

The King’s Promise; or, Faint Heart never 
WON Fair Lady 112 


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LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


THE llIVAL FAIRIES. 


INTRODUCTION. 


“ Let Fancy, Virtue’s handmaid be.' 


T was a fine evening in June. Mrs. 
Howard, after an unusually busy day, 
sat at an open window, enjoying the 
balmy summer twilight. She sometimes watched 
the rising moon, sometimes mused, and some- 
times listened to the merry voices of her chil- 
dren, who were running races with their father 
in the garden. Her pleasant re very was at 
length interrupted by the entrance of the gay 

party. Mr. Howard sat down beside his wife. 

11 


LJSGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


Little William assumed his favorite station on 
his mother’s footstool, with his arm on her lap ; 
Victoria ascended her father’s knee; Cecilia 
found another footstool, and seated herself near 
William; and Charles filled the vacant space 
on his mother’s sofa. 

“ What a lovely evening I ” said Cecilia. 
Charles. Lovely indeed I It reminds me ot 
the lines you read yesterday. Can you repeat 
them?^ 

Cecilia, 

“Now came still evening on, and twilight gray 
Had in her sober livery all things clad. . 

Silence accompanied. 

— Now glowed the firmament 
With living sapphires. Hesperus, that led 
The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, 
Kising in clouded majesty, at length 
Apparent queen, unveil’d her peerless light. 

And o’er the dark her silver mantle threw.” 

Milton. 

Mrs. H. Beautiful indeed ; and how correct 1 
Mr. H. Yes, their beauty depends on their 
correctness. “ Nothing is beautiful but truth.” 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


13 


This maxim may be applied to the arts as well 
as to morals, for the beauty of delineation, 
whether in poetry, painting, or sculpture, de- 
pends on its adherence to nature ; in other 
words, on its truth. 

William. Papa, I can tell you something 
pretty about evening. 

And he repeated, from the ^‘Diversions of 
Hollycot,” that sweet little poem, beginning, — 

“ Lady-bird, lady-bird, fly away home ; 

The field-mouse has gone to her nest,” etc. 

“Very pretty,” said Mr. Howard, patting his 
little son’s head. 

Victoria. I should like to hear “the fairy-bells 
tinkle afar.” 

William {clapping his hands). Oh, mammal 
tell us a fairy tale. 

Mr. H. {laughing). A fairy tale ? And do 
you believe in fairies. Master William? 

William {proudly). No indeed, papa. I know 
better than that. I know that there are no such 
things as fairies, and that they are put into sto- 
ries only to please little children ; and I know 


14 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


that fairy tales are sometimes al — aL — ; mamma; 
what is that long word ? 

Victoria. Allegory you meaU; don’t you? 

Mr. H. And what are allegories, my daughter? 

Victoria. Papa, I know what they are, but 
I don’t know how to say it in words. 

Mr. H. Try, Victoria. It is only by practice 
that you can learn to express your ideas pro- 
perly. 

Victoria {after a pause). Papa, I think an alle- 
gory is a sort of fable, in which our feelings 
and tempers are called by names, and spoken 
of as if they were people. 

ilr. H. Can you give me an example ? 

Victoria. Oh, yes, papa ! The “ Hill of Science,” 
and the Vision of Mirza,” are allegories. 

William. But the fairy tale, mamma. Can’t 
you remember one ? 

Mrs. H. I will try, my dear ; and while I am 
turning over my memory-book, do you, Cecilia 
sing us my favorite “Fairy Shamrock.” 

Victoria. Mamma, what is a shamrock ? 

Mrs. H. The Trefoil, or clover-grass. It is 
the emblem -plant of Ireland, as the Lily is of 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 16 

France, the Rose of England, and the Thistle 
of Scotland. Have you never heard people say 
that it was lucky to find a four-leaved clover ? 

Victoria, Yes, ma’am, often ; and I have 
hunted for one many a time myself. Now, 
Cecy, sing about it. 

Cecilia took her mother’s hand between hers, 
and sang, in very sweet style. Lover’s beautiful 
song,— 


THE FOUR-LEAVED SHAMROCK. 

“ I ’ll seek a four-leaved shamrock, 

In all the fairy dells ; 

And when I find the charmfed leaves. 
Oh ! how I ’ll weave my spells I 
I would not waste my magic might 
On diamond, pearl, or gold; 

For treasure tries the weary sight ; 

Such triumph is but cold. 

But I would play the enchanter s part, 
In casting bliss around ; 

Oh I not a tear or aching heart 
Should in the world be found. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 


“ To worth I would give honor ; 

I 'd dry the mourner’s tears ; 

And to the pallid lip recall 
The smile of happier years. 

And hearts that had been long estranged, 
And friends that had grown cold, 
Should meet again like parted streams, 
And mingle as of old. 

Oh 1 thus I ’d play the enchanter’s part, 
Thus scatter bliss around ; 

And not a tear or aching heart 
Should in the world be found. 


** The heart that had been mourning 
O’er vanished dreams of love. 

Should see them all returning. 

Like Noah’s faithful dove. 

And Hope should launch her blessed bark 
On Sorrow’s darkening sea ; 

And Misery’s children have an ark. 

And saved from sinking be. 

Oh ! thus I ’d play the enchanter’s part, 
Thus scatter bliss around ; 

And not a tear or aching heart 
Should in the world be found.” 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 17 

Mr, H, If the magic Shamrock could be 
found, the author deserves to have one, for the 
benevolent spirit that breathes in that sweet 
little song. 

Mrs. H, Perhaps might work change 

of intention. 

Cecilia. 0 mamma ! is not that rather un- 
charitable ? 

Mrs. H. Is thj servant a dog, that he should 
do this great thing?” was the indignant ques- 
tion of an untempted man, when it was proph- 
esied to him that he should become murderous 
and cruel. He did not think it possible; yet, 
when the occasion offered, he did all, and even 
more than the prophet had foretold. 

Mr. H. Yery possibly he had never, even 
when indulging dreams of future greatness, 
pictured himself to himself, as using his power 
for anything but good ; yet his first step to the 
throne was murder, and that, too, the murder of 
the master who seems to have loved and trusted 
him. **We all Icnow what we are, we "know not 
what we may says the proverb. 

Mrs.H. True: therefore we should be habitually 
2* B 


18 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

watchful over our thoughts; for evil thoughts 
are the blossoms which ripen into evil deeds. 

WillidTn. But the fairy tale^ mamma. It wants 
half an hour to tea-time. Pray tell us one. 

Mr. H. Do, my dear. 

Mrs. H. (smiling). Do you ask for the chil- 
dren’s sake, or for your own ? 

Mr, H. For both, perhaps. I have not for- 
gotten the days of my childhood. I really en- 
joy a fairy tale now and then. 

Mrs. H. Well then, you shall hear the History 
of the Princess Amaranth, or 

THE RIVAL FAIRIES. 

Once upon a time there lived in a far distant 
country a King and Queen who were intirnately 
acquainted with a great number of Fairies. 
They had long wished in vain for a child to in- 
herit their kingdom, but at last a daughter was 
born. Great rejoicings followed the birth of the 
little Princess, and according to the custom of 
those kings and queens who lived in fairy 
time, all the respectable fairies of their acquaint- 
ance were invited to assist at the ceremony of 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 19 

conferring a name on the young stranger. It 
was supposed that each elfin guest would bestow 
on her some valuable gift, as they did on the 
Sleeping Beauty, and other damsels, famous in 
nursery legends. 

Well, the invitations were sent and accepted, 
a splendid entertainment was prepared, the ap- 
pointed day arose bright and beautiful, the 
guests arrived in good time, and all went on 
charmingly, until the little Princess was brought 
forward. She received the name of Amaranth, 
and her fairy patronesses began to confer their 
gifts. The Princess was already so very pretty, 
that the fairies declared her person needed no 
further embellishment, and proceeded to bestow 
their favors on her mind. One gave her a ready 
wit; another, a good memory ; a third, a correct 
taste ; and so on, until it came to the turn of a 
fairy called Malicia. This fairy, who was dis- 
liked for her evil temper, and feared for lier 
power, valued herself on her rank, and was dis- 
pleased because the king had not handed her to 
the banqueting hall. She determined to vent 
her rage on the poor little Princess. “I/’ said 


20 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

she, with a spiteful smile, consider that a 
young lady so highly gifted should have a 
proper suite of attendants. I take the care of 
providing them on myself. When the Princess 
is three years old, they shall appear.” 

It was now the turn of a lovely fairy, named 
Benigna, whose charming countenance was a 
correct type of her amiable disposition. She 
delighted in doing good, and, being well ac- 
quainted with the character of the crafty and 
spiteful Malicia, too,” said she, ^'will re- 
serve my gift until the Princess has completed 
her third year.” 

Benigna’s good-natured smile relieved the 
hearts of the king and queen, and shortly after- 
ward the fairies took leave. Some departed 
in cars drawn by bats o-r humming-birds; some 
riding on butterflies, grasshoppers, or beetles, 
according to their several tastes. 

Time went on at his usual pace, and the 
Princess Amaranth finished her third year. 
This important event was celebrated by the na- 
tion at large with various festivities; and by 
the Princess (happily little aware of her cwn 


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LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


21 


consequence) in the Palace Gardens, with a party 
of young playmates, as gay and innocent as her- 
self. Tired with play, on the following morning 
she slept later than usual; and when she awoke, 
she saw six strange figures surrounding her 
bed. Amaranth looked round for her nurse 
(an amiable old lady called Kindness), and not 
seeing her, began to scream aloud. Her cries 
soon brought her doating parents into the 
chamber. “ Take them away ! take them away I ” 
screamed Amaranth, clinging to her mother’s 
neck. 

Who are you, you frightful creatures ? ” 
said the Queen, “and what do you want?” 

Frightful indeed they were, and well might 
poor little Amaranth scream at the sight of 
them. One was Peevishness, with frowning 
brow and pouted lips; the second. Disorder, 
with tangled hair and slipshod shoes ; the third, 
Indolence, with half-shut eyes and creeping gait ; 
the fourth, Inattention, looking before her with 
a vacant stare ; the fifth. Disobedience, with an 
air of sullen resolution ; and the sixth, Self-con- 
ceit, gaudily dressed, and assuming a variety of 


22 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


grotesque attitudes, which she seemed to think 
charming. 

^^We are here,” said Self-conceit, who was 
always forward to speak, “ by the orders of our 
mistress, the fairy Malicia, and we are come to 
wait upon the Princess.” 

“ My poor little Amaranth ! ” said the Queen, 
bursting into tears ; ‘‘ is this the cruel fairy’s 
revenge ? ” 

‘^Comfort yourself, my dear,” said the King; 
“remember Benigna’s promise.” 

“You shall not remember it in vain,” said a 
sweet voice. They turned toward the sound, 
and there stood the amiable fairy Benigna, at- 
tended by a matronly lady of grave but pleasing 
aspect, and six little sprites, as charming to be- 
hold as the servants of Malicia were hideous. 
The first was Good-humor, smiling sweetly, and 
dressed in sky-blue garments ; the second. Neat- 
ness, arrayed in spotless white ; the third. In- 
dustry, dressed in cheerful green, with lively 
eyes and active tread ; the fourth. Application, 
clad in gray, with earnest, thoughtful looks; 
the fifth. Modesty, in rose-colored vestments. 


legends OF FAIRY-LAND. 23 

with downcast eves and blushing cheeks ; and 
the sixth, Obedience, in sober brown, with an 
expression of courteous humility, which was 
extremely prepossessing. 

The good fairy advanced to the bed, and 
taking the hand of the little Princess, thus 
addressed her : 

“You are now going to take leave of the 
nursery, my dear Amaranth; and 1 liave brought 
you a governess.” Then, turning to the King 
and Queen, she presented to them the matronly 
lady who accompanied her, saying, “This lady’s 
name is Good Sense; she is closely related to 
Virtue. I have also brought six attendants for 
the Princess, who will act under the orders of 
her governess. I am sorry that my powers can 
neither enforce their stay nor dismiss the attend- 
ants sent by Malicia. I foresee much incon 
venience from the presence of these sprites, who 
partake of the unpleasant nature of their mis- 
tress ; but if the Princess is properly attentive 
to the counsels of her governess, and employs 
the servants I have brought her until the com- 
pletion of her eighteenth year, at that time the 


24 LEGENDS OF FAIRT-LAND. 

emissaries of Malicia will vanisli, and mine will 
devote themselves to the service of the Princess 
during the rest of her life. 

** Farewell, dear Amaranth I ” continued the 
fairy, stooping to kiss the wondering Princess. 

^'And shall I never see my dear old nurse 
any more ? ” sobbed Amaranth. 

“Certainly,’' replied Benigna, smiling. “She 
wiir continue her daily cares, and will always 
caress you when your governess tells her you 
deserve it.” And bowing a graceful adieu to 
the royal pair, Benigna expanded her delicate 
pinions, and disappeared through an open 
window. 

The education of the youthful Princess now 
began, and often had she and her governess 
cause to rue the troublesome pranks of Malicia's 
elves. Ugly and disgusting as they appeared 
at first sight, they managed to win the favor of 
the Princess, by humoring her whims, flattering 
her vanity, and palliating her faults. Amaranth 
was a sweet-tempered, intelligent child ; but she 
was a child, and of course was often mistaken, 
often silly, and sometimes wilfully wrong. It 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 25 

required many lectures, and some punishments 
from her governess, before Amaranth could be 
made to understand that those who would urge 
and assist her to correct her faults, though they 
neither concealed nor flattered them, were safer 
companions, and loved her better than those, 
who, while they professed in all things to con- 
sult her happiness, continually led her into diffi- 
culties, which they then left her to get out of 
as she could. But she did learn this important 
lesson at last ; and though the wicked elves still 
hovered about her, and sometimes prevailed on 
her to do as they liked, the servants of Benigna 
were her chosen companions. When Indolence 
placed her heavy hand on Amaranth’s limbs, 
and advised her to lie in bed a little longer than 
usual. Industry’s light foot approached the bed- 
side, her cheerful voice called the Princess to 
rise, her nimble hand presented a robe, and Neat- 
ness assisted her in putting it on. When Ama- 
ranth was reproved, and Peevishness, creeping up 
behind her, whispered a pert reply. Good-humor, 
pleasantly smiling, would come to her aid, own 

the justice of the reproof, and persuade the 
3 


26 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY^LAND. 


Princess to own it also. If Amaranth, when 
"^iessons were over, was running away, with Dis- 
order at her heels. Neatness would call her 
back, point to the open copy-book, the slate 
lying on the carpet, or the embroidery-frame 
overturned, and kindly assist her in arranging 
them. If Inattention prevented her from un- 
derstanding her lesson. Application would in- 
terpose, repeat the passage, and make its mean- 
ing clear. 

^^That piece of music is very tiresome,” said 
Indolence, one day. 

‘^And very difficult,” replied Amaranth, 
wearily. I do not think I shall ever be able 
to play it perfectly.” 

“ I do not think you ever will,” said Indo- 
lence. “ So you had better give it up, and come 
into the garden with me. Come.” 

She seized the hand of the Princess to lead 
her away, but Industry, coming up, begged her 
to make one more trial. Obedience entreated 
her not to displease her governess ; Application 
pointed out the proper mode of fingering, and 
the piece was perfectly played. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 27 

“How cbarming the Princess looked last 
night!” said Self-conceit; “and how well she 
danced! Everybody said she was the most 
charming princess in the world.” 

“I thought,” observed Modesty, gently, “that 
there were several young ladies who danced 
much better.” 

“So they did,” replied the Princess; for her 
heart told her that Modesty spoke the truth. 

Fifteen years flew rapidly away, and the 
Princess Amaranth was eighteen years of age. 
Malicia’s power was overcome, her hateful 
elves disappeared from the palace, and the 
happy Princess saw herself surrounded only by 
those who assisted her in the performance of her 
duties and rejoiced in her success. Her gov 
erness spoke of resigning her office. “ Ah ! 
my dear madam,” said the sweet Amaranth, ten 
derly embracing the good matron, “ what will 
become of your inexperienced pupil if you 
leave her? If she needed your guidance in 
the school-room, how much more will she need 
it in the world. Stay with me, I entreat you, 
and if the name of governess displeases, be 
called, what you have always been, my friend.'' 


28 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


It is not to be supposed that a young, beauti- 
ful, accomplished, and amiable princess remained 
without admirers. Poets had sung her praises, 
painters had displayed her portrait in many 
brilliant courts, and many embassies had been 
sent to the King, her father, asking her hand in 
marriage. But Amaranth was in no haste to 
leave her happy home. The ambassadors were 
politely received, and as politely refused. At 
length two young kings, who had heard of the 
charming Amaranth, visited her father’s court 
in person, and became eager rivals for her favor. 
These youths were cousins, and bore so great a 
personal resemblance, that one was often mis- 
taken for the other, by those who were not in- 
timately acquainted with them. The younger 
of the two was a very popular personage. He 
was called Seek-Pkaise. His countenance was 
more animated, his manner more alluring, and 
his dress generally gayer than that of his cou 
sin ; but the friends of the latter maintained 
that, though often serious, Will-Good (for so 
he was called) never was gloomy ; that, having 
once chosen a friend, he never forsook him ; and 







LEGENDS OF FAIRY. LAND. 29 

that the distinctions conferred by him, although 
less ornamental, were infinitely more valuable 
than those bestowed by Seek- praise. 

These royal cousins paid their addresses to 
the Princess, who, being desired by her father 
to make choice between them, consulted with 
her governess. Good-Sense asked the opinion 
of her brother Experience, and then advised 
the Princess to make a tour, accompanied by 
her parents, through the dominions of the two 
kings, and to be guided in her choice by what 
she should then observe. 

It was soon known at court that the King 
and Queen contemplated a journey of pleasure, 
and that the Princess would accompany them. 
The rivals hastened to their several homes to 
prepare for the reception of their royal guests, 
who, after a pleasant journey, entered the city 
of Splendok, the capital of the kingdom of 
Gkeatness, governed by Seek-praise. 

All things here seemed bright and beautiful. 
Magnificent mansions rose on either side of the 
wide and regular streets; the public squares 

were adorned with exquisite statues and superb 
3 * 


30 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


fountains, and guards were stationed at the 
gates to prevent the entrance of any persons 
who did not belong to the royal family. Ly- 
ceums, temples of the fine arts, places of public 
amusement, and hospitals, whose extent and 
size made them resemble palaces, crowded the 
city. The shops were filled with luxuries, and 
the populace seemed almost encumbered by the 
richness of their attire. Amaranth sat beside 
the young monarch in an ivory chariot inlaid 
with gold, and drawn by six snow-white horses, 
whose jewelled trappings might have purchased 
a province. Two hundred horsemen and as 
miiny foot-soldiers, superbly equipped, preceded 
the chariot ; the same number followed it. Fine 
bands of music filled the air with melody, and 
the spectators shouted, “ Long live the King ! ” 
Amaranth was dazzled and delighted. Ar- 
rived at the royal palace, she and her parents 
were welcomed to it with profound respect and 
great ceremony. Here, new beauties and new 
splendor crowded on the sight. Gold-embroi- 
dered draperies depended from pillars of the 
rarest marble; matchless paintings glowed on 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 31 

the walls ; and statues wanted but color to em^ 
ulate life. All arts, all sciences, seemed put in 
requisition to deck the abode ; and luxury ex- 
hausted its resources in preparing the banquet 
of which the guests partook. I forgot to men- 
tion that King Seek-praise was attended by 
the principal lords of his court, headed by his 
prime-minister and favorite, a stately courtier, 
whose name was Ambition. 

Many days passed away. Balls, parties, and 
concerts succeeded each other, and all that Ama- 
ranth beheld, spoke of wealth and enjoy ihent. 
At last, it was deemed proper to proceed on 
their tour. They were escorted to the gates of 
the city with the same pompous display that 
had welcomed their entrance. But they had not 
travelled far, when they were struck with the 
desolate and neglected appearance of the coun- 
try. Here and there stood a lordly mansion 
surrounded by noble pleasure-grounds; but 
fields half-tilled, barren plains, neglected or- 
chards, broken fences, gardens overgrown with 
weeds, and houses falling to decay, met their 
eight in every direction. The wretched inhab- 


82 LEGENDS OF FAIRY- LAND. 

itants fled in terror when the cavalcade ap 
preached, or stood gazing at it with stupid cu 
riosity. 

^‘Why is your cottage so sadly out of re- 
pair?” asked the Princess of an old man, who 
sat mournfully at his door. 

The old man raised his head, put aside the 
white hairs which the wind blew over his dim 
eyes, and replied, “My only son was enticed 
away from me to enter the service of the King. 
He was a good son ; he maintained his old 
father, until he was persuaded that he might 
become a great man in the city. I am too old 
and feeble to repair my hut, but it will last 
until I leave it for my grave.” 

“Why are your flower-beds unweeded, and 
your vines untrimmed ?” asked Amaranth of a 
meagre woman, who held a sickly-looking infant 
in her arms. 

“ My husband is dead. I am sick myself, and 
hunger makes me weak. There are none to 
help or pity me. All the great and rich people 
live in the city. Our neighbors are as badly off 
as ourselves.” 


LEGBl^DS OF FAIRY-LAND. 33 

** I lived happily enough,” said a man with 
one arm, “until I was tempted, by the fine things 
I heard, to leave my farm and join the army. 
I. lost my arm in the first battle. I saw hun- 
dreds of my comrades fall around me. Our 
General was a great man — he got a title and a 
pension, and everybody talked of the brave 
General. Nobody thought of the common sol- 
diers, who bought the victory with their lives.” 

Amaranth gave alms to the suffering crea 
tures, and begged her father to hasten their 
pace through these melancholy scenes. At 
length they crossed the boundary-line which 
separated the two kingdoms, and entered the 
dominions of King Will-good. 

What a change I Neat farm-houses sur- 
rounded by highly cultivated fields, snug cot- 
tages with their blooming gardens, handsome 
villas, emerald meadows, and stately forests, di- 
versified the prospect, and the party went gayly 
on over excellent roads. 

“All owing to our good King,” said a smiling 
cottager. “ He is truly the father of his coun 
try” 


c 


34 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

It was a desert when he came to the throne," 
said another; ^^but he has made it a garden.” 

He has done more than that,” said an offi- 
cer of the escort, who had formerly visited at 
the conrt of Will-good ; “he has made industry 
and usefulness fashionable accomplishments.” 

The young King, apprised of the approach 
of the royal party, hastened to meet them. A 
plain but elegant carriage received the Princess, 
and bore her to the city of Utility, capital of 
the kingdom of Happiness. This city was spa- 
cious and well laid out, the houses handsome 
yet substantial, and evidently built for comfort 
rather than show. The public squares were 
tastefully planted and carefully kept ; they were 
open to respectable people of all ranks, and 
many parties were seen enjoying the refreshing 
shade. 

“Where are your academies and colleges? 
where are your charitable institutions?” in- 
quired the Princess. 

The King pointed to a modest-looking row 
of buildings. “That,” said he, “is our college. 
Our philosophers prefer the useful to the splen- 


LEOtJNDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 36 

did. We do not need many charitable in- 
stitutions, for our citizens are frugal, in- 
dustrious and temperate ; but we have asy- 
lums for those who, in consequence of natural 
defects, the infirmities of age, or unavoidable 
calamity, need assistance from their fellow- 
creatures.” 

Where are your temples of the arts — your 
theatres, concert-rooms, exhibitions ? ” asked 
Amaranth, 

^‘We honor and cultivate the fine arts,” 
said the King, smiling; ^^we have sculptors, 
poets, painters, and musicians, ^not unknown 
to fame;’ but our citizens say they are too 
happy at home to want many places of public 
amusement.” 

“ Where are your guards ? ” demanded the 
Princess, looking at the attendants who sur- 
rounded the chariot. 

Here — there — everywhere,” said Will- 
good, pointing around him. monarch’s 

best defence is the love of his people.” 

^‘Are you sure that you possess it?” asked 
Amaranth. 


36 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND 

have tried to deserve it/’ replied the King 
modestly. 

They arrived at the palace. The same air of 
dignified simplicity that characterized the city 
appeared there. All was elegant, all was grand, 
all was proper for a kingly dwelling ; but Ama- 
ranth did not perceive any of the wasteful and 
useless profusion she had witnessed in the city 
of Splendor. There were a few fine paintings 
and some noble statues. Amaranth afterward 
learned that the King had presented the sum 
intended to enlarge his collections, to the inhab- 
itants of a town which had been destroyed by 
fire. A handsome collation awaited them, and 
before they sat down to it, Will-Grood pre- 
sented a venerable nobleman to his guests as 
his former tutor, and now his prime-minister. 
His name was Virtue. 

Will-good devised many agreeable parties 
for the entertainment of Amaranth and her 
parents, and they perceived that pleasure was 
permitted and enjoyed, though not allowed to in- 
terrupt the duties of life. The arts and sciences 
were cultivated, talents were praised and re- 
warded ; but the science of doing good, and the 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 37 

talent for being happy, were those held in the 
greatest esteem. 

^‘Well, Amaranth,” said her father, “you 
have had time and opportunity to make your 
election. Tell me, which of the royal suitors is 
to wed my daughter ? ” 

Amaranth’s avowal was promptly made. The 
pupil of Good-Sense had fixed her affections 
on Will-good. They were shortly afterward 
united, and the Fairy Benigna came to the 
wedding. 

Cecilia. Thank you, dear mamma. 

William. Now the moral. Explain the moral, 
if you please, mamma. 

Mrs. H. Nay, William, it is rather hard that 
I must furnish allegories and explanations too. 
If I tell the tale, I think you may find the 
moral. 

William. Well, mamma. I’ll try, if Applica- 
tion will help me. 

Victoria. You had better ask Industry to pull 
you out of bed to-morrow mcirning, and set 

about it early. 

4 


38 LEGENDS OF EAIRY-LAND. 

Gkarles. I mean to enlist under the banner of 
King Will-good; and I suppose, Cecilia, that 
you intend to copy the Princess Amaranth. 

Cecilia, I should be inexcusable if I did 
not, since I have always had Good-Sense for my 
governess. {Kissing her mother's hand.) 

Mrs. H, Thank you, my love. And now 
William ring the bell for tea. 




THE NEEDLE AND THE HOSE BUSH. 


A FABLE. 


Fabula docet.” 

** Though sometimes small evils, like invisible insects, inflict 
pain, and a single hair may stop a vast machine, yet the chief 
secret of comfort lies in not suffering trifles to vex one, and in 
prudently cultivating an undergrowth of small pleasures, since 
few great ones, alas! are let on long leases.” — Sharp’s Essays, 



EFOEE the window of the room where 
Maria usually sat with her work and 
books, there grew a large Eosebush. This 
beautiful plant flowered very early in the season, 
and continued budding and blowing, offering a 
constant succession of its charming roses quite 
through the summer. It was Maria’s favorite 
bush ; she had planted it with her own hands 

watered it, pruned it, and tied it up, nursed it 

89 




40 


LEGENDS OF F AIRY-LAND. 


when it was yonng and tender, and loved it from 
the time it was a little, prickly, unsightly stem, 
until it grew into a tall, graceful bush, rich with 
foliage and bright with flowers. And the grate 
ful Eosebush almost seemed sensible of the love 
and care bestowed upon it. It grew and bloomed 
under her skilful culture, and from early in 
June until late in August was never without a 
rose to please her eye and ornament her ringlets. 
Nay, Maria sometimes said, laughingly, that she 
was sure her Eosebush knew her ; for it bowed 
to salute her whenever she approached it, par- 
ticularly if the wind blew toward her ; and when 
she opened her window in the morning, it sent 
up a breath of fragrance from its dewy blooms 
sweeter than the swinging of a hundred cen- 
sers. Often, when she sat beside her Eosebush 
reading or working, it waved its branches across 
the window, as if to solicit Her notice ; and very 
often Maria would lay down her book or her 
needle to gaze at the coaxing bush, pull one of 
the laden branches toward her, count the clus- 
tering buds, and kiss the fragrant lips of the 
opening flowers. And when she let the branch 
go, it would spring back to its place, and then 




LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 41 

nod forward again, as though it meant to say, 
Here I am, sweet mistress, ready to play with 
you I ” 

Maria was sure that her Rosebush loved her. 
And perhaps it did. Who knows? At any 
rate, it did all that its nature allowed it to do to 
repay her love. There are few things (except 
the human heart) that make no return to care 
and kindness. 

One day, however, when the sun was hot and 
the sky bright, when the flies congregated under 
the trees, and the very bees, industrious as they 
are, hummed lazily about the flowers, Maria sat 
down in her shady window beside her beloved 
Rosebush. She had taken a long walk to see 
a poor sick woman, carrying with her a basket 
of little comforts provided by her mother, and 
a bunch of her own roses. She had some sew- 
ing in her hand, but she felt weary, and, after 
working for a little while, she laid her work in 
the window- seat, leaned back in her large cush- 
ioned chair, gave one look at the Rosebush, and 
closed her eyes. While she sat there with her 
eyes shut, she heard (or dreamed she heard) 
the following dialogue; 

4 * 


42 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


Rosebush {peeping in at the window). My dear 
little mistress seems to be asleep. Well, I will 
keep the air shady and sweet around her until 
she awakes. 

Needle {looking up out of Maria's work). Oh, 
Mrs. Eosebush, good morning ! I have long 
wished to have a little talk with you between 
ourselves, when our young lady’s eyes and ears 
were out of the way. 

Rosebush {bowing). I wait your pleasure, ma- 
dam. 

Needle. Pleasure, indeed I That ’s the very 
thing. I ’m tired of hearing the word pleasure I 
pleasure! nothing but pleasure! What’s the 
good of pleasure, I ’d like to know ? 

Rosebush {good-humoredly). That depends upon 
what kind of pleasure we take, I suppose. 

Needle. But what is the good of any kind of 
pleasure ? 

Rosebush. To reward us for the fulfilment of 
our duties — for the consciousness of duty well 
performed is the sweetest and most enduring of 
all pleasures ; — to refresh us after labor, and 
give strength for its renewal. You know the 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 43 

old proverb; of course, ^‘The how always lent''* 
etc. 

Needle. But it is such a waste of time ! Ah 1 
if you could only peep into the manufactory 
where I was made. No idling, no pleasure there. 

Rosehmh {dryly). So I have heard of many 
manufactories. 

Needle {a little confused). But what I wanted 
to say, Mrs. Eosebush, was about our little mis- 
tress. She is as active a little lady, and learns 
as quickly as any one I ever saw ; but you are 
spoiling her sadly. 

Eosebush {surprised). Me, madam ? I should 
be sorry to think that. Be so good as to tell 
me how. 

Needle. Why, you are always tempting her 
to idle away her time. Often does she throw 
down her book, often does she put me out of 
her fingers to look at you, to play with your 
branches, or smell your flowers. Nay, it was 
but this morning I heard her mother say to her, 
Maria, you could have finished sewing that 
seam before twelve o’clock, if you had not 
played so long with your Eosebush. You 


44 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

should have finished your task befoi*e you 
began to amuse yourself.” 

Rosebush. It seems, then, that it was not for 
playing, but for playing at an improper time, 
that my mistress was reproved. 

Needle. But what good does all this playing 
do? What is the use of it? Utility, utility, 
(as I heard Professor Z say yesterday,) util- 

ity should be our great object. 

Rosebush. I am not very good at argument, 
Mrs. Needle, being more used to the society of 
poets than philosophers ; but allow me to quote 

the reply I heard Dr. X make to your Pro* 

fessor Z : Since the pursuit of enjoyment 

is an instinct of nature, the wise moralist will 
•endeavor to exhibit amusements that please 
without enervating the mind, and gratify the 
tastes without corrupting the principles.” Grant- 
ing this, I think I can prove to you ihdX pleasures 
deserve some consideration, even on the score 
of utility. 

Needle. Indeed I That would be curious. 
Pray go on. 

Rosebush. Allow me, then, to ask what you 
mean by utility. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 45 

¥eedh. What a question ! Why, utility is 
— utility — usefulness — the property of being 
useful. I, for instance, am a useful implement, 
so is a lancet, so is a knife, so is a steam-engine 
People can workNfiih us. 

Rosebush. But you, madam, may prick a fin- 
ger so that lockjaw will ensue; a lancet may 
pierce an artery instead of a vein ; a knife may 
be used to cut a man’s throat instead of carving 
a beefsteak ; a steam-engine may burst and scald 
him, or run over and kill him. Yet they were 
not intended for such purposes. I have heard 
that a deadly poison may be extracted from my 
petals, but my usual destiny is to refresh and 
please. 

Needle. Well, madam,*what do you infer from 
that ? 

Rosebush. That there is in most, perhaps I 
might say in all created things, a power for good 
and a power for evil ; and that we are good or 
evil, not so much in ourselves as in the uses to 
which we are applied. And as you utilitarians 
(excuse me — I find that long word rather difii- 
cult to pronounce) always declare that your 


46 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


object is to secure the greatest quantity of good 
to the greatest number of persons for the greatest 
length of timef you should despise nothing that 
contributes to that end. 

Needle. But you do not profess to do anything 
but give pleasure. 

Rosebush. And is not pleasure, if innocent, 
itself a good ? Life is made up of emotions and 
sensations ; and the more things we take an in- 
terest in, the more material we have for enjoy- 
ment. It is said of Madame de Stael, that she 
would ride through the finest country without 
raising her eyes from her book. Was she hap- 
pier or better for this indifierence to the beau- 
ties of Nature ? I think not. At the best, she 
had but one pleasure where she might have had 
two. Happy those who cultivate a variety of 
tastes to meet the exigencies of circumstance I 
Happy, when the disappointed heart can lean 
for support on the active mind I Happy, when 
friendship betrayed and confidence misplaced 
can be forgotten while studying t,he idiom of a 
language or the structure of a plant. 

And what, indeed, would be the use of the 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


47 


innumerable inventions of human ingenuity, if 
they did not help to do that with ease and quick 
ness which once was done only slowly and with 
difficulty ? What is the end of utility but to 
increase pleasure and lessen pain ? Whatever 
diminishes the amount of human suffering, what- 
ever adds to the number of pleasant sensations 
and agreeable ideas, is good and useful; always 
provided that the pleasure sought be in con- 
formity to the laws given by the great Creator 
of all things for the government of his crea- 
tures. And what end, allow me to ask, does 
that great and good Creator propose to his ra- 
tional creatures, when he commands them to 
live usefully? Happiness — their happiness — 
not only in time but in eternity — the happiness 
of heaven. Usefulness is the means, but happi 
ness is the end. 

Needle. You have more to say for yourself 
than I thought. 

Rosebush. Perhaps, in reference to the useful- 
ness of myself and my vegetable relatives, you will 
permit me to say a few words more. You will 
allow that health is one of the most precious of 


48 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

human treasures, since upon the possession of 
it not only personal comfort, but the exertion 
of the active virtues, must greatly depend. A 
taste for gardening is therefore useful, inasmuch 
as it compels people to be often out-of-doors, 
and exercise in the open air is indispensable to 
health — to health of mind as well as body. The 
amiable and afflicted Cowper found more tran- 
quillity in his garden than anywhere else. Sol- 
omon, the greatest of monarchs and wisest of 
men, delighted in the study of botany. It is 
recorded that he spake of trees, from the cedar 
that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that 
springeth out of the wall.” No doubt he often 
took refuge from the cares of state and the mis- 
ery of family dissensions in his shady arbors, 
and soothed his harassed mind by the contem 
plation of his flowers. His thoughts seem to 
have been familiar with pastoral scenery; the 
Lily and the Eose of Sharon are -among his 
favorite similes. Hannah More loved her gar- 
den dearly, and refreshed her strength there 
after those labors of Christian usefulness which 
made her name blessed among women.” Miss 
Edgeworth, the most practical of geniuses and 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


49 


most cheerful of moralists, was in the garden 
every day before breakfast ; and our own 
fine-minded, loving-hearted Mrs. Child* luxu- 
riates among flowers. 

Needle. You overwhelm me with authorities. 

Rosebush. Nay, I have not half done yet. If 
praise be accepted as a criterion of value, the 
poets give us a triumphant majority of votes. 
From Homer downward they vie with each 
other in singing the praise of flowers, and of 
roses in particular. Milton represents Eve as 
lamenting over the separation from her flowt rs, 
when banished from Paradise. Cowper’s 'de- 
scription of his shrubbery is in itself a garde v.f 

* Mrs. L. Maria Child, author of Philothea,” “ Letters t A 
New York,” <tc., &o. 

f Laburnum, rich 

In streaming gold ; Syringa, ivory pure. 

The scentless and the scented Rose: this, red 
And of a humbler growth ; the other, tall, 

And throwing up into the darkest gloom 
Of neighboring Cypress, or more sable Yew, 

Her silver globes, light as the foamy surf 
Which the wind severs from the broken wave. 

The Lilac, various in array; now white, 

Now sanguine, and her beauteous head now set 
With purple spikes pyramidal, as if 
Studious of ornament, yet unresolved 
Which hue she most approved, she chose them alL 
Copious of flowers, the Woodbine, pale and wan, 

6 D 


60 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


Southey calls the Eose “a paradise of leaves.”* 
Mary Howitt and L. B. L. have chronicled their 
flowers in delicious verse. Darwin wrote his 
“ Botanic Garden ” for our sakes. Leigh Hunt 
seems personally acquainted with us all, from 
the peasant Buttercup and tiny Mignonette to 
the queenly Magnolia, and the giant beauty of 
the Orient, the Eafilesia Grandiflora,t whose 

But well compensating her sickly looks 
With never-cloying odors, early and late. 

Hypericum, all bloom, so thick a swarm 
Of flowers, like flies, clothing her slender rods, 

That scarce a leaf appears ; Mezereon too. 

Though leafless, well attired, and thick beset 
With blushing wreaths investing every spray. 

Althea with the purple eye ; the Broom, 

Yellow and bright, as bullion unalloyed, 

Her blossoms j and luxuriant above all. 

The Jasmine, throwing wide her elegant sweets; 

The deep, dark green of whose unvarnished leaf 
Makes more conspicuous, and illumines more. 

The bright profusion of her scattered stars.” — The Taak, 

* I believe Southey borrowed that fine idea from Ariosto. — A. B. 
f “ The most important botanic discovery made throughout the 
journey was that of the Baffiesia, perhaps the largest and most 
magnificent flower in the world. It measured across, from the 
extremity of the petals, rather more than a yard ; the nectarium 
was nine inches wide, and as deep, and was estimated to contain 
a gallon and a half of water. The weight of the whole was fif- 
teen j^ounds.” — Sir Stamford Rafiee and the Spice Islands, 
^‘Chambers’ Miscellany of Useful and Entertaining Tracts,” vol, 
vi., Edinburgh, 1845. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 51 

flowers measure nine feet in circumference. Mrs. 
Sigourney’s flowers are among the fairest in her 
own poetic wreath. One elegant author has 
called flowers the alphabet of angels ; ” an- 
other denominates them “stars of the earth.” 
So you see that Virtue, Wisdom, Genius, and 
Greatness are among our advocates and ad- 
mirers. 

Needle. But, allowing all you say to be correct, 
(and I am very willing to allow it,) surely you 
would not think it right for our little mistress 
to spend all her time in the garden ? 

Rosebush. By no means, nor in any other 
amusement. If she did, she should soon learn 
that there are more thorns than roses in every 
garden. A life without duties would be a life 
without pleasures. Some pleasures (or what 
are called such) are sinful in their nature — of 
them, “touch not, taste not, handle not.” Others 
are sinful only in their excess, or when duty is 
left undone that they may be partaken. Let 
human beings, then, not turn away from the in- 
nocent refreshments which are needful to minds 
and bodies, under the false and irreverent idea 


52 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 


that they are sent here only to suffer ; but let 
them prepare themselves for a thankful enjoy- 
ment of •pleasure, by a faithful performance of 
duty. Many duties are pleasant in themselves; 
(I should suppose from the smiling face of Miss 
Maria, while she sits at her sewing, that your 
company was at certain times quite as agree- 
able to her as mine;) all duties are pleas- 
ant in their sequence — a conscience void of 
offence. 

Needle. But, after all, surely you do not pre- 
tend to claim for yourself and your friends as 
high a rank among useful things as I hold ? 

Rosebush {smiling). Perhaps, shocking as 
you may think the assertion, I do. Probably 
the world could do better without needles than 
without flowers. To say nothing of our mani- 
fold uses in food and medicine, we are supposed 
to perform a very important office in the economy 
of existence. The atmosphere which is con- 
taminated by the respiration of animals, is re- 
stored to purity by the vegetation of plants.” 
But why should we trouble ourselves about our 
respective ranks and places ? The world is wide 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


53 


enougli for us all; and would it not be wiser to 
unite our respective powers in a kindly spirit 
toward the same end^ than to quarrel about 
precedence? Why should not Pleasures and 
Uses walk hand in hand? While you earn 
bread for the poor seamstress, let flowers offer 
themselves to deck the close little room in 
which she toils. Poor thing! all she sees, per- 
haps, of the garden, from one spring to another, 
is when some kind hand takes a bouquet from 
my branches to place on the table beside the 
pincushion, the scissors, and the needle-book, 
which are always before her weary eyes. While 
you take a proud place in the cabinet of the 
surgeon, let us go to the sick-chamber, and re- 
fresh the parched organs of fever with our cool, 
pure fragrance ; calming the excited nerves, and 
bringing back sweet thoughts of hope and 
health. While you guide the sailor unerringly 
across the perilous deep, let us enter the cell of 
the captive, like kind messengers from the world 
without, to prove that it has not utterly for- 
gotten him. While you embroider the garments 
of Wealth and the canopies of Grandeur, let m 

brighten the cabin of Poverty and garland the 
6 * 


64 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

brow of Childhood. Nay, more — let Science, 
when she has studied the wonders of our forma- 
tion, consecrate us to Eeligion ; and let Eeligion, 
pointing to us, say to the doubting, fearing, sor- 
rowing heart, that 

“ He who careth for the flowers 
Will much more care for him.” 

Just then the banging of a distant door 
aroused Maria from her slumber, and she 
snatched up her work. The Needle and the 
Eosebush said no more. Whether the Needle 
was convinced or not, by the eloquence of the 
Eosebush, we do not know ; but Maria thought 
that when she attempted to thread her Needle, 
she saw a tear in its eye. 



WOMAN’S WIT; 



OR, 

THE CAPTIVE PRINCESS. 


Part First. 

E Gnome King sat in his golden halls. 

“I am lonely here,” quoth he; 

‘ I would I could find a gentle dame 
To hear me company.” 

Up spake the Gnome King’s elfin page — 

A wily sprite was he : 

“I have seen a fair and stately maid 
Would be fitting mate for thee. 

“ She often through the greenwood glade 
With lightly foot doth go ; 

And often on the mountain brown 
She hunts the dappled roe. 



65 




56 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND 


“ Prince Alberic’s daughter is the maid 
He has but only she ; 

Her royal birth and beauty bright 
Make fitting mate for thee. 

“ For she has locks of silken sheen, 

And lips of rosy glow ; 

And oh I her voice is soft and sweet 
As the summer brooklet’s flow. 

“ A merry heart the maiden hath, 

A keen, keen wit hath she ; 

And she would make thy lonely halls 
A joyful home to thee.” 

Part Second. 

Fair Emma on her palfrey sat; 

But ere she rode away, 

She turned to hear the parting words 
Her ancient nurse did say : 

“Oh, if thou needs must hunt to-day. 
Beware the Elfin Hill ; 

And rest not near the Blasted Oak, 
Nor cross the Fairy Rill.” 

“ Now fear thee not, my darling nurse ; 
Sir Rupert rides with me ; 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

And I am safe from harm or fright, 

From mortal man or elfin sprite, 
With guardian such as he.” 

With careless laugh and gleeful word 
The merry hunt rode on ; 

And sadly by the castle-gate 
The old nurse stood alone. 

“I fear me much,” she sighing said, 
“Some evil will befall: 

A noble maiden’s safest place 
Is in her father’s hall. 

“ But ’t is a brave and loyal knight 
That rides beside her rein ; 

Ere evil hap to her betide. 

Sir Eupert will be slain.” 


Part Third. 

The gallant stag had breathed his last, 
And westward turned the day ; 

The weary hunt, with hound and horn, 
Eode on their homeward way. 

But many a mile the gallant stag 
Had raced o’er holt and hill ; 

He died beneath the Blasted Oak, 
Beside the Fairy Kill. 


57 


58 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


And while the huntsman to the hounds 
Their bleeding quarry * flung, 

Upon the rivulet’s farther side 

Fair Emma, ’mid the rushes, spied 
A golden carcanet hung. 

Three paces crossed the narrow stream. 

Three stepping-stones lay there ; 

And lightly from her palfrey then 
Down leapt the lady fair. 

Ah I Princess, think upon thy nurse. 

Nor cross the Fairy Rill ! 

Too late ! too late ! she bounds across — 

She ’s on the Elfin Hill. 

She stoops to seize the glittering prize — 

Wide yawns the rushy brink. 

In swooning darkness Emma falls, 

And downward to the Gnome King’s halls. 

The Elf and Princess sink. 

Part Fourth. 

Reclined upon a golden couch. 

The beauteous captive lies ; 

And wild and wondrous is the scene 
That meets her opening eyes. 

♦ Quarry {in hunting), a reward given to the hounds after they 
lure taken the game. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


59 


For golden was the vaulted roof, 

And golden were the floors, 

And golden were the polished walls, 

And golden were the doors. 

And every gem that e’er was wrung 
From earth by art and toil, 

With elfln skill to pictures wrought. 

Bedecked each gleaming wall. 

From golden vases fragrant smoke 
Of precious gums arose ; 

And much the aching sight required 
That shadowy veil’s repose. 

For shining in the vaulted roof 
Of this so wondrous hall, 

A glorious carbuncle * was hung. 

To shed its light o’er all. 

Forever and forever there 
Shone on the magic day ; 

And polished wall and rainbow gem 
Gave back the dazzling ray. 

“All these shall be thine,” said the Elfin King, 
“If thou with me wilt stay.” 


• Carbuncle, a precious stone* 


60 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


“ I will not stay,” the Princess said, 

“ Thy treasures tempt not me ; 

I better love my father s hall, 

With its dim old tapestry — 

Its floors of stone 
With rushes strewn. 

Or sprigs of the dark fir-tree.” 

He led her forth from the golden halls — 

“ Come see my garden,” quoth he ; 

And the portal turned on its golden hinge. 
Making sweet melody. 

She thought the hall a wondrous sight. 

But the garden more wondrous still ; 

(And her heart beat quick, for afar she espied 
The peak of the Elfin Hill.) 

The tree-trunks were shaped of silver and gold, 
The leaves were of emerald green ; 

The cherries were carved from the garnet red, 
And the citrons from topaz sheen. 

The purple plums were of amethyst made, 

And like drops of frozen wine 

Hung clustering grapes, whose tints displayed 
The opal’s changeful shine. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


61 


Of coral red were the trumpet-flowers 
That climbed o’er a sparry grot ; 

And near them the azure turquoise grew, 

Like a little forget-me-not. 

The snowberry balls of pearls were formed, 

The roses of ruby rare : 

For every flower that blooms upon earth 
A jewel was sparkling there ; 

And high in the midst, a quicksilver fount 
Threw its bright rain into the air. 

“All these shall be thine,” quoth the Elfin King, 
If thou wilt tarry with me.” 

“I covet them not,” the Princess said, 

“ And I will not tarry with thee. 

“ I tremble amid these splendors strange. 

The work of elfish skill ; 

I better love the forest-flowers. 

And the breath of the breezy hill.” 

“And I will be thine,” quoth the Elfin King, 

“ If thou wilt tarry with me ; 

I will make thee queen of my broad domain. 
And my gnomes shall toil for thee.” 

“I will not tarry,” the Princess said, 

“And I never will wed with thee. 

6 


62 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


I seek not to share thy elfin throne, 

Nor to govern thy elfin bands ; 

I had rather dwell on the mountain dark, 

Where Rupert’s castle stands.” 

“ Methinks,” quoth the Gnome, “ that maiden’s pride 
Must soar upon humble wing. 

Who would stoop to wed a mortal knight. 

When wooed by an Elfin King.” 

Red flushed her cheek, bright flashed her eye, 
And boldly up spake she : 

“ That mortal knight is nobly born, 

And of gentle nurture is he : 

Se would scorn to gain a maiden’s hand 
By a deed of treachery.” 

She drew down her veil to hide her tears, 

And then she wept bitterly. 

Part Fifth. 

Days came and went; (full heavily 
A captive’s time goes by ;) 

Pale grew fair Emma’s blooming cheek : 

And dim her dark-blue eye. 

And every day the Elfin King 
More prized the noble maid ; 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


63 


He strove to please with costly gifts 
Each hour before her laid. 

Her smiles to win, by deep respect 
And courteous speech strove he ; 

And sought to grant her every wish, 

Save one — for liberty. 

But still to all his flattering words 
Eeplied the lady fair : 

“ I pine to see the flowers of earth, 

And breathe the upper air.” 

“ Thy wishes are my bosom’s law, 

Sweet Princess,” said the Gnome; 

“ Lo ! here are flowers, like those that grow 
In the garden of thy home. 

“ In yonder fleld I sowed the seed. 

And watched it carefully ; 

I screened from heat and fenced from cold, 

And now the fragrant blooms unfold, 

An ofiering meet for thee. 

** Nor weep thou more for loneliness : 

Receive this ivory wand ; 

And touch thy flowers — what shape thou calPst, 
Shall straight before thee stand.” 


64 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


Oh, happy words ! — a thought of hope 
Flashed quick across her mind ; 

Upon the enamored Gnome she turned 
A look full bright and kind. 

“Thy flowers are sweet,” she smiling said, 

“ And well their fair array. 

Transformed to lords and ladies bright, 

Might grace a bridal day. 

“ Go, count the flowers throughout the field. 

How many there may be ; 

But look thou bring the number true. 

Or seek no smile from me.” 

Quick went the hope-deluded Gnome 
The lady’s hest to do : 

She grasped the wand — she touched a flower — 
A black bird round her flew. 

“Haste, haste, my bird ! to Rupert fly, 

Say Emma ’s faithful still ; 

And bid him seek the Blasted Oak, 

Beside the Fairy Rill ; 

But bid him not to cross the stream, 

Or tread the Elfin Hill.” 


LEGENDS OF FAlRY-LANr 

Up rose the bird — fair Emma’s eye 
Pursued its airy way ; 

Alas ! a hawk was hovering near, 

And swooped upon the prey. 

Again she grasped the ivory wand, 

Again the spell tried she ; 

And, lo ! above the scattered flowers 
Hovered a buzzing bee. 

** Haste, pretty bee ! to Rupert fly — 

Say Emma ‘s faithful still ; 

And bid him seek the Blasted Oak, 

Beside the Fairy Rill ; 

But warn him, not to cross the stream, 

Nor tread the Elfin Hill.” 

Off flew the bee. “ One efibrt more. 

My freedom to regain I” 

She touched a flower : “ Be thou a steed. 
With saddle, girth, and rein.” 

Well wrought the charm ; the stamping hoofs 
Rang on the golden floor; 

Fair Emma seized the courser’s rein, 

And led him through the door. 

6* E 


66 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


She scanned with keen and careful eye 
The hill-side’s stony track ; 

Put hand on mane, and lightly sprang 
Upon the courser’s back. 

That leap shook lose the braid that bound 
Her ringlets long and fair ; 

Escaped the tie, one vagrant tress 
Far floated on the air. 

“ Oh ! serve me now, thou gallant steed, 

Oh ! serve me but an hour ; 

Let me but cross the Fairy Rill, 

I ’m freed from elfin power.” 

Spurned by his hoofs, the pebbles start, 
As up the hill they fly ; 

So springs the arrow from the bow. 

The meteor from the sky. 

Half the steep hill is safely won ; 

F.air Emma glances back : 

Oh I sight of fear, the vengeful Gnome 
Is hurrying on their track. 

Speed, Princess, speed ! the Blasted Oak 
Enlarges on thy view I 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

Ah 1 fast she rides, but faster still 
Does the fierce Gnome pursue. 

(Now, gentle ladies, to my rede* 

I pray ye listen all ; 

And heed the moral, when ye learn 
What did the maid befall.) 

Fair Emma at her ’broidery frame 
That morn had working been ; 

And in her silken girdle placed 
Her scissors, bright and keen. 

No spur she wore, but from her side 
The scissors sharp she took, 

And in her courser’s heaving flank 
The urging points she strook. 

Now onward, onward! lady bright I 
Shake free the bridle-rein I 

Now onward, onward, noble steed ! 

Thy elfin mettle strain. 

She nears the peak, she nears the Oak, 
She tops the Elfin Hill 1 

She sees Sir Rupert’s waving plume. 
She hears his bugle shrill : 

* Redk, advice. 


67 


68 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


Now, noble steed I one gallant leap 
Will cross the Fairy Kill ! 

Too late I too late I the Goome has reached 
Her side with desperate bound ; 

And fiercely clutched the floating tress, 

To drag her to the ground. 

Oh, woman’s wit ! be prompt at need, 

And save those matchless charms ! 

Her scissors cut the silken tress — 

She ’s safe in Rupert’s arms 1 

MORAL. 

Young ladies, when your beaux invite 
To picnic, boat, or ball. 

Bethink ye — maiden’s safest place 
Is in her father’s hall. 

And you, whose fingers small and soft 
The Tieedle scorn to ply, 

Remember — had fair Emma’s hours 
In idlesse lingered by — 

And had she left the golden halls, 

No sdssoi's by her side. 

The Elfin King had won the race 
Sir Rupert lost his bride. 


THE THREE TALISMANS; 


OB, 

THE ENCHANTED FIG-TREE. 


HERE was once a king whose virtues 
gained for him from his subjects the title 
of “ The Just and Good.” His kingdom 
was of no great extent, and we should be puz- 
zled if we attempted to point out its where- 
about on the map of the world. When this 
king ascended the throne, he found his treasury 
empty, his subjects oppressed and rebellious, 
and his realms threatened with invasion by cer 
tain restless neighbors, who thought the little 
kingdom might form a pretty appendage to their 
own more ample domains. But in a marvel- 
lously shdrt time, things assumed a very differ- 



70 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

ent appearance. The invading powers withdrew 
in dismay from the borders, which seemed ever 
defended by an alert and well-disciplined sol- 
diery. The people pursued their various occu- 
pations contentedly, under the shelter of well- 
devised and strictly executed laws. The keeper 
of the royal coffers announced that the office of 
treasurer was no longer a sinecure. Taxes were 
lightened, privileges granted, vice in high places 
was punished, and the nobility, taught by the 
example of their sovereign, sometimes forgot 
that they were nobles, and remembered that their 
inferiors were men. What a blessed country ! 
The Happy Valley of Kasselas w'as nothing 
to it. 

In process of time the good king married, 
and became the father of a prince. The little 
Abdallah was beautiful as daylight, so said the 
courtiers, for even their wise king could not 
entirely break them of the bad habit of flat- 
tery. But, without exaggeration, Abdallah was a 
very pretty child, and evinced very amiable 
dispositions, which were carefully cultivated by 
nis parents and the wise tutors they selected for 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


71 


him. Abdallah grew up handsome, accom- 
plished, and amiable; and the people said, 

When we lose our good king, he will have a 
worthy successor.” 

When Abdallah was about twenty years of 
age, his father was taken ill, and soon became 
convinced that he could not recover. He called 
his son to his bedside, and having dismissed 
the attendants, he spoke as follows : 

“My dear son, I am about to leave you. Az- 
rael * is waiting with uplifted sword beside my 
pillow. Before I obey the summons, I must bid 
you farewell, give you my parting advice, and 
intrust to you the precious secret which has 
enabled me to work out my designs of good 
toward my subjects. You have heard of the 
misrule and misery which prevailed when I as- 
cended the throne; you see what peace and pros- 
perity are now enjoyed.” 

Here the king paused, exhausted. Abdallah 
poured out a cordial and held it to his father’s 
lips. The dying man swallowed a little ; then, 
putting aside the cup, he pointed to an ebony 

♦ AziB4EL, the Angel of J)eatb, 


72 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

casket wkicli stood near his couch, and directed 
his son to place it before him. Abdallah obeyed. 
The king put his hand within his vest, and drew 
out a small steel key of curious workmanship, 
fastened to a chain of gold. 

“Here,” said he, “is the secret which has made 
me powerful, and my people happy. Take the 
key, my son, and unlock the casket.” 

Abdallah eagerly obeyed, and threw up the 
lid. The casket contained only a leathern belt 
fastened with a brazen clasp, a dagger in a plain 
black sheath, and a purse of coarse network. 
Surprised and disappointed, the young prince 
looked at his father. 

“My son,” said the king, “do not always judge 
by appearances. Such is the common fault of 
youth, and more particularly of natures ardent 
and sincere, like your own. These articles, 
seemingly so coarse and worthless, are talis 
mans of power. They were wrought for me b} 
a grateful fairy, to whom, when my years counter, 
no more than yours, I rendered a service. Drav 
near me, Abdallah, and learn their virtues.” 

Abdallah knelt by his father’s side, and the 


LEGENDS OF FAIRT-LAND. 73 

king, raising himself with difficulty, took in 
his hand the leathern belt. “Place this,” said he, 
“ around your body, fasten the clasp, and you 
will become invisible. Then turn your face to 
the east, touch the clasp with the fore-finger of 
your left hand, and name the place where you 
wish to be. Instantly you will find yourself 
there. This dagger, held aloft in your right 
hand, will summon to your call as many thou- 
sand armed men as you shall number units. 
Pass the dagger from your right hand to the 
left, and command them to disappear ; they will 
vanish as speedily as they came. And once 
every day, you will find this purse filled with 
golden coins. Judge, my son, of what inesti- 
mable value I found these gifts. The belt as- 
sisted me to discover abuses and baffle conspir- 
acies; the dagger enabled me successfully to 
repulse my enemies ; and the purse to encourage 
merit, relieve distress, and recompense fidelity. 
When I depart, Abdallah, these priceless treas- 
ures will be yours. But you must bear in mind, 
that talismans act for good or evil, according to 

the motives of those who employ them. I have 
7 


74 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

used the belt only to discover truth and admin- 
ister justice ; the dagger, only in defensive war- 
fare ; and the purse, to supply reasonable wants 
and just demands. If used only to promote 
selfish enjoyment, they will work you evil, and 
not good. Take the key,” continued the king, 
detaching the chain from his neck, “lock the 
casket, and take it into your own care. Kemem- 
ber, too, that a secret is ill kept when kept hy more 
than one. Let nothing but an occasion of the 
most pressing necessity induce you to reveal it, 
until you lie, as I do, on the bed of death. Now 
remove the casket, and tarry beside me, for I 
am weary, and would willingly sleep.” 

Abdallah set the casket aside, concealed the 
key in his bosom, and reverently resumed his 
place at his father’s side. The old king slept 
calmly for a short time; when he awoke, he 
renewed his conversation with his son, gave 
him many sage and afiectionate counsels, and, 
shortly afterward, peacefully closed his eyes in 
death. 

Abdallah’s regrets were deep and lasting ; but 
he. wisely judged, that to obey the injunctions 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 75 

and imitate the example of his lost parent, would 
be the most proper way of showing respect to 
his memory. He therefore endeavored to con- 
trol his grief, and entered assiduously on the 
duties of his station. But when the time of 
mourning for the deceased monarch had elapsed, 
when Abdallah had announced his intention of 
continuing all his father’s old counsellors in 
office, and enforcing all the excellent laws made 
by him for the welfare of his subjects; and 
when he had acted for some time up to .this 
annunciation, he began to feel his hours hang 
rather heavily on hand. In fact, so wise had 
been his father’s policy, that little was left for 
his successor to do, except to enjoy the benefits 
of it. But Abdallah was too young and rest- 
less to remain satisfied with passive enjoyment; 
he began almost to wish for an invasion, a re- 
bellion, a something or other, he did not much 
care what, that would occupy his mind and 
tax his resources. Having hinted somewhat of 
this, one day, in a rather confidential conversa- 
tion with his prime minister, that gentleman 
suggested that his Majesty might amuse him- 


76 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

self very prettily for a while, by looking about 
for a wife. 

Abdallah thought this quite a charming idea; 
and the suggester of it, thinking, probably, that 
a short privation of the privileges of royalty 
would teach Abdallah how better to enjoy them, 
observed that the neighboring courts contained 
many amiable princesses, and that much im- 
provement and amusement might be obtained 
by travelling incognito. 

Abdallah was delighted ; and certainly nobody 
could travel incog, more comfortably than the 
possessor of the Three Talismans. Moreover, 
romantic visions of wooing as a private gentle- 
man, and wedding as a king, the lady who 
should be discerning and disinterested enough 
to choose him for himself, began to float through 
his imagination. Do not think our Abdallah 
too silly, dear reader I This was once, if old 
tales be true, a favorite folly of kings. 

It was soon proclaimed at court that the king 
intended to travel. Preparations for his* depar- 
ture were commenced with great vigor. His 
prime minister had been his father’s true and 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 77 

trusted friend ; to his hands the reins of gov- 
ernment were committed, and Abdallah left the 
palace of his ancestors, to visit a world of which 
he knew little, and of whose inhabitants he 
knew less. For, though Abdallah was amiable, 
and his tutors wise, there is one book, called 
Experience, in which all must read, before they 
can become wise themselves. 

Abdallah quitted his capital, attended by a 
retinue suitable to his rank ; but when he ap- 
proached the frontier of his kingdom, he stopped 
at a large town, and there stationed his attend- 
ants, with orders to remain until he rejoined 
them. He then mounted his horse and rode out 
of the city alone. Arrived at a solitary place, 
he drew from beneath his cloak the precious 
casket, unlocked it, took out the leathern belt, 
and passed it round his waist. He fastened the 
clasp, touched it with the forefinger of his left 
hand, turned his face to the east, and pronounced 
at random the name of the first city that came 
into his head. The magic belt did its duty, and 
Abdallah presently found himself standing in 
7 * 


78 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


the midst of a stately city, at a thousand leagues 
distant from his own kingdom. 

We have not time to narrate all the adven- 
tures which befell our young traveller during 
the first week of his residence in the strange 
city ; suffice it to say, he was so much occupied, 
amused, and interested by the novelties of his 
situation, that he almost forgot his intention of 
seeking a wife, and had begun to think of chang- 
ing his place of abode, when he accidentally 
obtained a sight of the reigning king’s only 
daughter, the Princess Margina, and felt as- 
sured not only that she was the most lovely 
princess in the world, but that he never could 
be happy again, unless this identical Princess 
became his wife. 

Abdallah began to regret having left his ret- 
inue behind him, until he recollected his Three 
Talismans; nay, in this case one would have 
sufficed. Few things are impossible to a man 
who carries an inexhaustible purse. A splendid 
mansion, attendants, horses, and costly robes 
were easily procured, and the end of the second 
week saw Abdallah introduced at the court of 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 79 

Margina’s father, in the character of a young 
nobleman travelling for his health, and flatter- 
ing himself that Margina already perceived his 
admiration, and perceived it without displea- 
sure. 

In this, Abdallah was not mistaken. The 
Princess did indeed enjoy the homage of the 
handsome stranger, but it was without the 
slightest idea of returning his afiection. The 
child of a weak, indolent father, and a selfish, 
ambitious mother, Margina was insolently proud 
of her own charms, and had already determined 
that her bridegroom must be a powerful moU' 
arch. Even had she known Abdallah’s rank, 
she would have thought his little kingdom 
scarcely large enough for her pleasure-garden. 
She had never been taught the moral arithmetic 
that would have led her to calculate the great- 
ness of a kingdom by the happiness of the sub- 
jects, and the virtues of their ruler. 

But did not the defects of Margina’s character 
lessen the effect of her beauty ? We are sorry 
to say they did not. The Princess had early 
learned to conceal a cold and selfish heart under 


80 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 

the veil of soft and pleasing manners. She 
liked popularity, and found it easier to utter a 
fine sentiment than to do a good action; and 
Abdallah, poor boy I was easily deceived. Like 
many of his age, he thought beauty and goodness 
almost synonymous. Seeing Margina possessed 
of many charms, he gave her credit for possessing 
every virtue. And does nobody make a similar 
mistake nowadays ? Alas, yes ! Even in this 
intellectual age (which ought to be much wiser 
and better than its predecessors, if talking to it 
would make it so) people have a prejudice in 
favor of beauty, and are inclined to judge of 
wit by the brilliancy of an eye, and of kindness 
by the rosiness of a lip. And bright smiles 
are very apt to dazzle, especially when those 
smiles are turned on ourselves. We are very 
sorry to confess this ; but we dare not set down 
anything that is not precisely true in this vera- 
cious chronicle. 

So the Princess smiled on Abdallah until he 
deemed himself secure of the prize, and ven- 
tured to declare his sentiments. Then the nat- 
ural haughtiness of Margina overpowered her 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 81 

practised sweetness, and she scornfully repulsed 
his suit. She assured him she could never so 
far forget what was due to her royal parents and 
herself, as to wed with any man who was not of 
royal birth, and commanded him to leave her 
presence. 

** Princess,” said the insulted suitor, ** I shall 
obey you ; but before I go, let me inform you 
that the heart I hoped to vnn as an undistin- 
guished stranger, I meant to claim as a king. 
Ay — and as a king possessing treasures, which, 
if he choose, may make him mightier than all 
other monarchs of the earth.” 

Abdallah paused; for he perceived that in 
his agitation he had said more than was prudent. 
The Princess was startled by this address, and 
instantly surmised a part of the truth, namely, 
that Abdallah was a disguised prince. Curious 
to know in what kingdom reigned the sovereign 
who could make so proud a boast, she replied 
in such a way as to require an answer from 
Abdallah; and having succeeded in detaining 
him beside l^r, she gradually altered her man- 
ner, condescended to insinuate an apology for 
F 


82 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 

her insulting speech, and, in short, contrived to 
persuade the young and honest-hearted prince, 
that her harshness had been caused more by 
surprise than displeasure. 

We easily believe what we wish to be true. 
Abdallah, having permitted his affections to be 
entangled before he began to scrutinize the 
character of Margina, had lost, in a degree, the 
power of using his judgment, and his fond par- 
tiality readily suggested excuses for such defects 
as he could not help perceiving. He informed 
her of his name and rank, and the Princess was 
too cunning to press for further disclosures at 
that time. She listened patiently to all Abdallah 
had to say, and gave him some reason to hope 
that she was not likely to frown upon him, pro- 
vided he could obtain the consent of her par- 
ents. 

Abdallah was very happy, and the magic 
purse was freely resorted to, in order to obtain 
costly presents, and prepare magnificent enter 
tainments for the Princess. Conscience some- 
times hinted that the purse had been wrought 
for other uses ; but Abdallah silenced her whis- 




LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


83 


pers by representing to himself; that the choice 
of a wife was a very important affair to his sub- 
jects, as well as himself, and that, once the young 
and lovely Princess become his own, he should 
find no difficulty in moulding her character into 
all that was desirable for a wife and a queen. 

Some weeks fiew by very rapidly, and Mar- 
gina allowed Abdallah to consider her his be- 
trothed bride. Not a word all this while did 
she say about the secret, but it was not the less 
constantly in her thoughts. At last, when she 
thought Abdallah sufficiently under her influ- 
ence, she skilfully approached the subject. For 
a long time he resisted her importunities; he 
acknowledged that he had a secret, but that he 
could not possibly divulge it. This only made 
Margina more determined to know it, and she 
had no scruples of delicacy, no feelings of ten- 
derness, to restrict her in the use of means. 
From smiles and playful entreaties she went on 
to poutings and upbraidings, and from those to 
tears and lamentations. She was sure, she said, 
that Abdallah did not love her as he pretended 
to* do, or he never would refuse her so trifling a 


84 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

favor. Was not she his betrothed bride, and 
ought she not to possess his confidence ? For 
her part, she never meant to have any secret in 
which he might not share. Poor Abdallah! 
These words, accompanied by sighs and tears, 
completely destroyed the small remnant of his 
prudence. He, who loved sincerely, felt how 
bitter it would be to have that love doubted ; 
and judging of Margina’s heart by his own, he 
resolved to risk everything, rather than cause 
her so cruel a pang. He told her all. Mar- 
gina’s handkerchief was at her eyes, and he did 
not perceive the triumph that sparkled in them. 
Poor Abdallah 1 

But Margina’s purpose was not yet fully ac- 
complished. She declared that she could scarcely 
credit so strange a tale ; nay, she would not credit 
it unless she saw the talismans with her own 
eyes, and touched them with her own hands. 
This seemed a very natural request, and the 
ebony casket was placed at the feet of the Prin- 
cess. 

Her examination of its contents was long and 
minute ; and when the casket was closed again, 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


85 


sbe thanked Abdallah very sweetly for his com- 
pliance with her wishes, but hesitatingly de- 
clared herself not quite satisfied yet. His re- 
luctance to tell the secret, she continued, had 
wounded her feelings ; he must prove to her that 
she possessed his entire confidence. It was a mere 
whim, to be sure, a trifle ; still, her peace of mind 
depended on it. Would Abdallah commit the 
casket to her care for a few days ? only a few 
days, that she might show him how carefully 
she could preserve both the secret and the tal- 
ismans. 

Abdallah, bewildered as he was, resisted 
stoutly; but a fresh shower of tears from the 
beautiful eyes of the Princess melted away his 
resolution, and the inestimable casket was com- 
mitted to her care, she promising to return it 
that day week. 

The week passed very agreeably to Abdallah, 
for Margina exerted herself to please him, care- 
fully avoiding all reference to the important 
deposit, until, on the appointed day, she herself, 
unasked, restored it to his hands, repeating her 
thanks for this great proof of confiding affection. 

8 


86 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 


Another week had gone to join itself with the 
past, and all was sunshine between Abdallar 
and Margina, (during this week Abdallah had 
not sought the assistance of his talismans ;) but 
on one memorable day a dispute arose between 
them respecting some trifling occurrence about 
which he differed with her in opinion, and he 
persisted in maintaining his own view of the 
subject, without a thought of displeasing his 
fair opponent, until, to his infinite surprise, the 
lady started from the cushions on which she had 
been reclining, and, with raised color and flash- 
ing eyes, declared that he intended to affront 
her. In vain Abdallah attempted to explain, 
in vain he offered to apologize; Margina was 
neither to be convinced nor pacified. She poured 
on him a torrent of reproaches, accusing him of 
all sorts of failures in love and respect, and 
ended by declaring that she considered their 
engagement at an end. Then, disengaging her 
robe, which the prince had grasped while en- 
treating her to listen to him, she rushed out of 
the apartment. 

The astounded lover almost thought himselt 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 87 

in a dream. He rubbed his eyes — no, he was 
awake ; and he sadly quitted the palace, hoping 
that on the morrow Margina would see him, and 
listen to reason. 

But when the morrow came, Margina refused 
to grant him an interview; and another, and 
another morrow came, and found her still firm 
in her refusal. Half distracted, Abdallah has- 
tened to shut himself up in his chamber, 
and there his eye fell on the ebony casket, of 
which he had scarcely thought during this tu- 
mult of his spirit. will see her,” he ex- 
claimed. '‘I will force her to hear me. At this 
hour she sits in her favorite pavilion.” He has- 
tily unlocked the casket, put on the belt, placed 
his left forefinger on the clasp, and turned to 
the east, exclaiming, “Margina’s pavilion I” In 
vain. He did not move an inch from the spot 
on which he stood. 

Much surprised, he drew the clasp tighter, 
and went more carefully through the prescribed 
form ; the result was the same. He still stood 
in his own chamber, and the mirror opposite to 
him reflected his graceful figure just as it always 


88 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

did. Appalled by this new misfortune, Abdal- 
lah tried in turn the dagger and the purse. No 
soldiers obeyed his call, and the purse remained 
empty. 

“Has my folly brought about this calamity?” 
said he. “ My father warned me that if I used 
the fairy gifts for selfish gratification, they would 
work for evil, and not good. Have they lost 
their power forever ? ” 

He took up the talismans one by one, and 
scrutinized them closely. The truth flashed 
upon his mind. The real talismans had been 
abstracted by Margina, and she had replaced 
them by skilful imitations. He sat down and 
covered his face with his hands. The discovery 
of Marginals perfidy was more terrible than the 
loss of his talismans. The bitterest pang an 
honorable heart can feel, is the certainty that 
those it hves are unworthy of its esteem. 

To see Margina, and to regain his lost treas- 
ures, he felt would be equally impossible. What 
was he to do ? a thousand leagues from his own 
kingdom, and deprived by his own folly of all 
resources. Even were he to proclaim his inju- 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 89 

ries, who would believe him ? He would pass 
for a fool, a liar, or a madman. His reflections 
almost maddened him. . He rose from the couch 
on which he had sunk, and pressed his hands 
on his throbbing forehead. Just then, one of 
his pages entered to inquire if his master was 
pleased to ride. Mechanically, Abdallah an- 
swered in the affirmative ; and when his steed 
was brought, he sprang upon its back, motioned 
his attendants not to follow him, and rode fu- 
riously away. 

Absorbed in his own torturing reflections 
Abdallah rode on for some leagues, unconscious 
how hard he was pushing his noble horse, until 
the wearied animal stumbled and fell. Kecalled 
to himself by this accident, Abdallah, when he 
regained his feet, and observed the exhausted 
condition of the horse, felt ashamed of his own 
thought! ess n, ess. He looked round — the place 
was strange to him. It was a wild and un- 
even road skirting an extensive forest, behind 
which the sun was just setting. Abdallah re- 
leased his horse from the restraints of saddle 
and bridle, and turned him loose to graze in 


90 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

the forest. He seated himself on the projecting 
root of an old tree, and in spite of his troubled 
thoughts, fatigue soon cast him into a profound 
slumber. 

When he awoke, the sun was high in the 
heavens, birds were singing merrily among the 
branches, and his horse was walking slowly 
about, cropping the dewy herbage. Abdallah 
was surprised to find that the night had passed 
away while he slept. He arose and looked 
about him for some sign of human habitation, 
for he began to feel inconveniently hungry. 
Yes, in spite of his afflictions, in spite of his 
treacherous Princess and his lost talismans, 
Abdallah, who had tasted nothing since his 
breakfast the day before, began to wish ex- 
tremely for something to eat. He had not 
looked long, before he was gladdened by the 
sight of a lai’ge fig-tree, loaded with the largest, 
finest, ripest-looking figs he had ever seen. He 
lost no time in gathering a number of them, 
and beginning to eat them. Their flavor was 
answerable to their beauty, and the young king, 
who, besides being very hungry, was particu- 











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LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 91 

larly fond of figs, tad devoured half a dozen 
before he became aware of the terrible conse- 
quences of his indulgence. For each fig that he 
ate, his nose lengthened an inch. Poor, poor Ab- 
dallah ! To be mocked by a worthless woman 
was bad enough, to lose his talismans was worse, 
but to have his handsome aquiline nose thus 
frightfully elongated, was unbearable. Abdal- 
lah, in an agony, tore his beard, never consid- 
ering that, if his nose were spoiled, spoiling his 
beard would not make matters any better. 

After some minutes spent in vain upbraidings 
of Fate, (who has a great many undeserved re- 
proaches to bear,) Abdallah, dreading to be seen 
in his disfigured condition, plunged deeper into 
the forest. He wandered about for some time, 
and at last threw himself down despairingly on 
the brink of a little rivulet. Fatigue and vex- 
ation had made him thirsty. The sight and 
sound of the clear rippling waters drew his at- 
tention, and stooping toward them, he drank. 
0 fortunate Abdallah 1 At every mouthful 
of water he swallowed, his nose contracted itself 
an inch ; and when he had taken six mouthfuls 


92 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


the liquid mirror reflected a face as handsome 
as it had ever been, with the exception of a few 
curls torn from the jetty beard. 

'^Seeing is believing,” says the proverb, ^‘but 
touching is the truth.” Having by both tests 
satisfied himself that his nose had returned to 
its proper dimensions, Abdallah lost no time in 
catching his horse, and retracing his way to- 
ward the city from which he had ridden in such 
distracted haste. 

His first care on arriving, was to procure lodg- 
ings in an obscure part of the town. 3e had 
about his person some valuable gems ; these he 
sold to a jeweller, and then proceeded to the 
shops of the clothes-merchants. He entered two 
of these shops, and purchased a suit of clothes 
in each. One of these suits was the coarse attire 
of a peasant. He dressed himself in the peas- 
ant’s garb, and rubbed his face, neck, and hands 
with a liquid, which gave him the appearance 
of being deeply sunburned. He purchased also 
a large leathern bottle and a basket. Thus 
equipped, he took his way back to the enchanted 
forest. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


93 


» Tlie next day the purveyor for the royal 
kitchen was accosted, on his return from mar- 
ket, by a countryman, who carried on his arm 
a basket filled with figs. These figs, tastefully 
arranged among bunches of their rich green 
foliage, were the largest and most beautiful ones 
the purveyor had ever seen. The Queen and 
Princess were very fond of figs, and the pur- 
veyor immediately bought them, at a very high 
price, for the royal table. Abdallah returned to 
his humble lodgings, washed the dye from his 
skin, put on his usual dress, and awaited the 
result. 

The ne’xt day and the next passed away. 
During this time the court physicians had been 
unsuccessfully trying every means their science 
suggested, to relieve the Queen and Princess, 
whose noses had suddenly swelled to a most 
frightful size. On the third day, the terror and 
grief of the Princess overpowered her desire to 
keep the ridiculous misfortune a secret, and 
proclamation was made tliat the Queen and 
Princess were afflicted with a terrible and niys- 
terious disease of the nose, and that the fdiysi- 


94 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY- LAND. 


cian wlio could cure them might name his own 
reward. 

Physicians and sages without number flocked 
to court at this annunciation, and the unhappy 
ladies suffered all sorts of torments from their 
various prescriptions, without having their noses 
diminished by a single hair’s breadth. Disputes 
ran high among the learned men ; some assigned 
one cause and some another, for this sudden en- 
largement of the nasal organ. Sides were taken 
parties formed, books were written and answered, 
replies were given to the answers, and rejoinders 
made to the replies. hToseans and Anti-Noseans 
at last forgot the original cause of difference ; 
from medical, tbe dispute became political, and 
the opponents hurled all sorts of abusive 
epithets at each other, pretty much as they 
might do nowadays ; for learned men in a pas- 
sion behaved as absurdly in fairy-time, as learned 
men in a passion behave in 1869. 

Abdallah remained in his retirement. The 
physicians had exhausted their stock of pre- 
scriptions uselessly, and the Princess, in despair, 
declared she would kill herself. Suddenly a 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


95 


new actor appeared upon the stage. An aged 
man, of stately figure, dressed in flowing robes 
of strange fashion, with a face of student-like 
paleness, and silvery hair falling from beneath 
his high fur cap, appeared before the palace, 
announced himself as a physician, and demanded 
admittance to the presence of the afflicted ladies. 
Eagerly they caught at the smallest straw of 
hope. The stranger was received with profound 
respect, and promises of unbounded recompense, 
if he could effect a cure. 

The physician felt the Queen’s pulse, exam- 
ined her nose very carefully, consulted a large 
black volume which he carried under his arm, 
and finally pronounced the disease curable by 
time and skill. The ladies were enraptured. 
The Queen drew a superb diamond ring from 
her finger and presented it to the sage ; the 
Princess detached a chain of rubies from her 
neck, and besought his acceptance of it. The 
stranger put back their gifts. 

I do not exercise the healing art for gain,” 
said he. “ When I effect the cure, it will bo 
time enough for rne to receive a recompense.” 


96 


LEGENDS OF FAtRY-LAND. 


He drew from his bosom a small crystal flask 
containing a clear liquid. He poured a little 
of it with much solemnity into a spoon, mut- 
tered certain unintelligible words over it, and 
directed the Queen to drink it. The wonderful 
drops had scarcely been swallowed, when there 
was a perceptible shrinking of her nose. Wild 
with excited hope, the Princess eagerly besought 
the physician to commence operations upon her- 
self. 

^^It cannot be,” he gravely replied. ^^Only 
one can I relieve at a time. My art extends no 
farther. And so many inches as the nose has 
increased, so many days will it require before I 
can reduce it to its proper size. To-morrow I 
shall see her Majesty again.” 

He made a profound obeisance, and would 
have retired, but was not permitted. Sump- 
tuous apartments were prepared for him in the 
palace ; and the antagonistic medical parties sus- 
pended their feud, while they united in denoun-, 
cing the strange physician as a quack, whose 
treatment would certainly leave the patients 
worse than he found them. Meanwhile, the 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY LAND. 97 

stranger tranquilly occupied his splendid apart- 
ments, leaving them only to administer to the 
Queen her daily dose of the curative fluid. In 
ten days the cure was completed. And the 
Princess, rendered doubly impatient by the 
weight of her own cumbersome deformity, and 
the sight of her mother’s restored good looks, 
entreated the physician to lose no time in ren- 
dering her his assistance. 

Madam,” said he, after feeling the pulse and 
inspecting the nose of Margina, “your case is 
of a more malignant nature than that of your 
royal mother; the cure will be more tedious 
and more difficult.” 

He accordingly administered the first dose of 
the medicine; but in vain. Expressing great 
surprise, he poured out another spoonful ; but 
no effect was produced. No wonder; for the 
crystal flask now contained nothing but common 
water. 

“There is some mysterious cause which 
thwarts the effect of the healing fluid,” said the 
physician. “ I must consult my books.” 

His constant companion, the large black vol- 
9 G 


98 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


ume, was unclasped and turned over. Then a 
small wand was produced ; a circle was described 
on the marble floor, and sundry strange charac- 
ters drawn within it, according to the rules of 
magic in such cases made and provided. After 
studying these characters intently, the physician 
suddenly raised his head, and fixed a pair of 
piercing black eyes on the trembling Princess. 

“ There is falsehood here,” said he, in a terri- 
ble voice. “A foul influence traverses the path 
of the healing planets, — an evil deed unre- 
pented, an injury unredressed. Lady, the im- 
pure cannot mingle with the pure. The merci- 
ful influences cannot work side by side with the 
powers that prompted you to requite love with 
scorn, and trust with betrayal.” 

The terrified Margina attempted to stammer 
a denial of the accusation ; but the physician 
silently shook his head in token of disbelief, and 
turned to leave the room. 

Oh, do not forsake me, wisest of men ! ” ex- 
claimed the Princess, bursting into tears. ^^Have 
pity on me, I beseech you.” 

^‘Let all present withdraw except the Prim 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


99 


cess,” said the physician, waving his hand with 
a gesture of command toward the attendants. 
The Princess confirmed the mandate by a sign, 
and her attendants withdrew. The physician, 
preserving his air of solemn displeasure, re- 
mained standing, with folded arms, in the centre 
of the chamber. Margina, overwhelmed with 
terror and shame, threw herself at his feet, con- 
fessed that his skill had divined the truth, and 
gave him the whole history of Abdallah’s love, 
and her theft of the talismans. 

^^In yonder casket,” continued she, weeping, 
^^are the fatal treasures. Oh, mighty sage! 
lend me but your aid, and I swear to you that 
they shall be restored as soon as may be, to him 
to whom they rightfully belong.” 

The physician turned upon the kneeling, 
weeping Princess a look of unutterable scorn. 

^‘A woman and a princess , said he, ‘^and to 
act thus! I have heard that high station should 
beget high thoughts, and that the enduring truth 
of your weaker sex, might put man’s boasted 
strength to the blush. Shame on you ! You 
have disgraced alike your rank and your wo- 
manhood.” 


100 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

Margin a, humbled to the dust, could only sob 
out a repetition of her readiness to restore the 
talismans to their rightful owner. 

“ I will not trust your word,” said the physi- 
cian. “She who has been treacherous once, 
may be treacherous again. Let the talismans 
be deposited in my hands, as proof of your re- 
pentance and sincerity. On no other condition 
can I help you.” 

Margina hesitated ; but a glimpse of her dis- 
figured countenance, as displayed by an oppo- 
site mirror, determined her to make any sacrifice 
rather than remain so hideous. She rose from 
her knees, approached the casket, opened it, and 
placed the talismans in the hands of the phy- 
sician. 

In a twinkling he secured the purse and dag- 
ger in his bosom, fastened the belt round his 
waist, threw off the high fur cap and the silvery 
locks affixed to it, and lo I the handsome fea- 
tures of Abdallah, wearing a most alarmingly 
triumphant expression, were presented to the 
gaze of the dismayed Margina. 

“False and cruel woman I” said he, “your 
heartless treachery is duly punished ” 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 101 


So saying, he touched the clasp, pronounced 
the name of his own kingdom, and disappeared, 
leaving the wicked Princess, with her enormous 
nose, to repent of her perfidy at her leisure. 

Note. — A learned commentator, on perusing the foregoing nar- 
rative, gives it as his opinion, that the Three Talismans had dis- 
tinctive names. He thinks that the belt was called Dispatch j 
the dagger. Courage j and the purse. Economy. He thinks, also, 
that, among the many ancient MSS. he has investigated, he re- 
members one entitled " Forty Years at Court j or. Some Passages in 
the Life of Abdallah the Prosperous. Written by his Prime Min- 
ister and Confidential Friend.” In which memoir it is stated, 
that, in about a year after Abdallah’s disagreeable adventure with 
Margina, he wedded a beautiful and discreet princess, with whom 
he lived long and happily. It also states, that the generous king, 
pitying the distress even of the woman he had so much reason to 
despise, after allowing her to remain for a short time under the 
terrible fear that she was disfigured for life, sent her a flask of 
water from the Enchanted Brook, with directions how to apply it, 
and a gentle admonition to make a better use of her wit and 
beauty in the time to come. The Princess doubtless availed her- 
self of the contents of the flask ; but whether she profited by the 
good advice, the historian saith not. — A. B. 

9 * 




EOLAND AND MAY ; 


OR, 

THE TRANSFORMATIONS. 



P, Roland, up ! the Fairy sleeps I 
Sound may her slumbers he I 
I’ve learn’d the charm, and hasten’d hero, 
To set my Roland free.” 


She spoke the charm — the massy chains 
From Roland’s body fell; 

The bolts flew back, and the door swung wide, — 
They quitted the dungeon cell. 

They journeyed fast, they journeyed far ; 

But when ’t was break of day. 

They saw how on their flying steps 
Fast came the vengeful Fay. 


102 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 103 

She spoke the charm — there was nothing then 
But a silvery lake in sight, 

And a snowy swan that floated on 
The waters calm and bright. 

But when Night came down with her silver lamp, 
To lighten the woodland way, 

Then Boland trod the dark footpath 
By the side of his lovely May. 

They journeyed fast, they journeyed far. 

Till Morning’s torch of flame 

Blazed broad and bright, and showed them where 
On their tracks the Fairy came. 

She spoke the charm, — and a red, red Rose 
In a briery thicket sprung ; 

And a Minstrel played on a golden lute. 

And thus the Minstrel sung : 

“ The Lily is fair, and the Jessamine sweet, 

And the Tulip is bright to see ; 

But of all the flowers that ever grew, 

The red, red Bose for me ! ” 

“ Alack and alas I ” the Fairy said, 

“ I track their steps in vain ; 


104 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

My feet and my wings are weary both, 

So I ’ll turn me back again.” 

Then back she turned, and went over the hill ; 
And when she was out of sight, 

There stood a youth by the briery hedge. 

And talked with, a maiden bright. 

“ Now hasten, hasten, Roland ! ” she said, 

“ To seek for thy parents dear ; 

I should but cumber thy anxious way. 

So I ’ll turn to a rock of the granite gray. 

And wait for thy coming here.” 

With a heavy heart and a watery eye. 

Young Roland went his way ; 

And the maiden staid in the lonely field, 

A rock of the granite gray. 

The rock was wet by the evening dew. 

And dried by the morning sun ; 

And slowly, slowly the spring-time passed. 
And the summer heats begun. 

The rock was chilled by the thunder-showers, 
And scorched by the noontide ray : 

“Alack and alas ! ” the maiden said, 

“ Where does my Roland stay ? ” 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 105 


And sadly, sadly the summer passed, 

And over the granite stone 
The bleak wind blew, and the dead leaves flew, 
And still she was there alone. 

“Alack and alas 1 ” the maiden said, 

“Alas ! and woe is me I 
The dreary autumn is almost sped : 

Where can my Roland be?” 

And sadly, sadly the autumn passed, 

And the wintry blasts did blow ; 

The gray granite rock was robed in white, 

A mantle of glittering snow. 

“ Alack and alas ! ” the maiden said, 

^ “ That ever this should be ; 

Has Roland forgotten his true-love vow ? 

Has Roland forgotten me?” 

And sadly, sadly the winter passed. 

And the merry spring came on ; 

The wild flowers grew, and the butterflies flew, 
Around the granite stone. 

“Alack and alas! ” the maiden said, 

“ This must no longer be ; 


106 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


I must in quest of Roland go, 

Since lie comes not to me.’* 

She spoke the charm — the granite rock 
Stood in the field no more ; 

But a linnet sang in the briery hedge, 
That never sang there before. 

And sweetly, sweetly the linnet sang, 
And ever thus sang she : 

“ I must in quest of Roland go. 

Since he comes not to me.” 

She flew o’er hill, she flew o’er dale. 

She flew o’er stream and wood. 

Until she came to the forest glen 
Where Roland’s cottage stood. 

She closed her wings on an oaken hough 
That hung the lattice above ; 

She looked to the door of Roland’s cot, 
And she sang her lay of love. 

“ 0 Roland dear ! if thou art here. 

If thou art here to-day. 

Oh ! list to my song, nor tarry long, 

But come to thy faithful May.” 






LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 107 


She eyed the door as it opened wide — 

Alas, for the hapless May ! 

A bridal train came gayly forth — 

’T was Roland’s marriage-day. 

“Alack and alas ! ’’ the maiden said, 

“ That ever this should be ; 

That Roland should break his true-love vow, 

And prove so false to me 1 

“ I ’ll change myself to a little flower 
On the lonely heath that grows ; 

Some passing foot may crush me there, 

And death will end my woes.” 

She spoke the charm — from the. oaken bough 
The little linnet flew ; 

And all alone on the russet heath 
A snow-white Daisy grew. 

She shudder’d and droop’d when the storm beat rough, 
She smiled in the sunshine gay ; 

She open’d her buds when the morning shone, 

She closed them with closing day ; 

But ever and aye she sorrow’d for him 
Who forsook his faithful May. 


108 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

Till a Shepherd, seeking a wandered lamb, 
Came over the lonely moor, 

And saw the little Daisy grow 
In beauty so pale and pure. 

“0 lovely plant ! ” the Shepherd said, 

“And found in a happy hour ; 

If I were a king, I would bear thee hence. 
To bloom in a royal bower. 

“ But I ’ll take thee now to my moorland cot, 
Eight humble although it be ; 

Thou ’It be safe, and dear, and tended well. 
So come to the cot with me.” 

He took the Daisy out of the ground. 

And bore it proudly away ; 

And the Daisy dwelt in the moorland cot 
For many a peaceful day. 

The Shepherd arose with the rising sun. 
And hastened his flock to see ; 

But ever first to his Daisy dear, 

A careful look gave he. 

The Shepherd folded his flock at night, 

And home to his cottage sped ; 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 109 

The hearth was swept, and the fire was bright, 
And the table was fairly spread. 

“Alack and alas ! ” the Shepherd said, 

“ Some witchcraft this must be : 

I will away to the Wizard’s cave, 

And tell what happens to me.” 

Away to the Wizard’s cave he went. 

And told his wondrous tale ; 

The Wizard from his magic stores 
Drew forth a snow-white veil. 

“ This veil was woven with many a charm ; 

’T was bleached in a comet’s light ; 

Go home to thy cot, and hide thee there, 

And watch till the dawn is bright. 

“ The very first thing that stirs or speaks. 

Thou must fling the veil around ; 

And if there be witchcraft in thy cot, 

The charm will be then unbound.” 

He took the veil, and he homeward sped ; 

Oh I but the night seemed long ; 

But morn peeped over the hills at last. 

And the birds began their song. 

10 


110 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


The Shepherd listened with anxious ear, 

He watched with earnest eye ; 

He saw the Daisy wave its buds, 

He heard a gentle sigh. 

He cast the veil o’er the Daisy then ; 

And when he drew it away, 

The first sunbeam through the lattice fell, 
And it shone upon lovely May. 

“Alack and alas 1 ” the Shepherd said, 

“ That ever this should be ; 

For sure a maiden of beauty so bright 
Will never look kind on me.” * 

The maiden turned, the maiden smiled, — 

“ Full kind wast thou to me. 

When I, a sad and lonely flower. 

Was found on the russet lea. 

“ Thou art kind and good,” the maiden said ; 
“And many a peaceful hour 
I ’ve bided here, and I would not leave 
Thy cot for a royal bower. 

“ Enough, enough,” the maiden said, 

“ False Roland, I ’ve sorrowed for you ; 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. Ill 


My hand and my heart ^hall be given now, 

To guerdon a love more true.” 

Oh 1 joyful, joyful the Shepherd was, 

And blithe was the bridal day, 

When the Shepherd,who dwelt in the moorland cot, 
Was wedded to lovely May. 




THE KING’S PKOMISE. 

"Are you prepared to battle with Fate, 

Bravely to dare, and patiently wait ? 

For he who would be truly great. 

As a hero, but half of Life’s task gets through ; 

He must strive for the saint' e meek virtues too. 

And learn to suffer as well as to do. 

And he who himself or others would rule. 

Must never of Circumstance be the tool. 

The weak mam walks through the World’s street. 

And weeps when its pebbles bruise his feet 
While the strong takes the stones in his path that lie. 

Piles them into a ladder, and scales the sky.” 

MS. Poem, by A. Ji. 

INTRODUCTION. 

OUSIN LEWIS,” said little Victoria 
Howard, you are not half as nice as 
you were last vacation.” 

The Cousin Letois thus addressed was a young 
student, who spent all his college vacations with 
his Aunt and Uncle Howard. 

“Am I not ? ” said he, good-humoredly, and 

112 




LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 113 

drawing the little girl to him as he spoke. 
“ That is a serious accusation. Why arn I less 
nice than I used to be ? Condescend upon par- 
ticulars, Miss Victoria.” 

^‘Why, Cousin Lewis, you are all the time 
busy with great, tiresome books, or, if you are 
not reading, you sit staring into the fire, or 
talking wise with papa and mamma. You never 
play with me now.” 

“Nor offer to escort me about,” said Cecilia. 

“Nor challenge me to chess,” said Charles. 

“Nor play the flute for me,” said William. 

“Nor tell us stories,” resumed Victoria, 

“Gently, gently,” cried Lewis; “don’t over- 
whelm me quite. I plead guilty, throw myself 
on the mercy of the court, and promise to do 
better in the time to come ; in fact, I have been 
drudging so hard, only that I might earn myself 
some perfect leisure. To-morrow my actual 
holiday begins ; and henceforth, Cecilia, I shall 
be at liberty to escort you everywhere, to beat 
you, Charles, at chess, to play the. flute for Wil 
liam, and play the fool for Victoria.” 

“But it is not to-morrow yet, cousin,” said 
10* H 


114 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 

Cecilia. Can’t you begin being agreeable to- 
night?” 

tout mon cxur^ provided you will tell me 
how to set about it. But Charles is so busy 
with his drawing, and you with your knitting — 
netting — what do you call it? — you seem quite 
independent of me and my powers of pleasing. 
So, Cousin Yic, I’ll begin with you and Will. 
Fancy yourself Aladdin, and I will be your 
Slave of the Lamp. What task do you set 
me? Shall I bring you a roc’s egg to hang up 
in place of that chandelier? Will you have a 
palace finer than the Sultan’s? or a garden 
fairer than Zobeide’s ? W ould you like to see 
Aboulcasem’s wonderful peacock? or shall I 
summon the beautiful slave who plays on the 
lute, and relates such charming histories ? ” 

“ Oh I the beautiful slave. Cousin Lewis I the 
beautiful slave I” exclaimed Y ictoria and Wil- 
liam together. 

Lewis gravely arose, extended his right hand, 
and pointed to the four corners of the room, 
uttering some strange-sounding words which 
the children did not understand ; then he bent 
his head in the attitude of listening. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 115 

^‘Fair mistress of the Lamp/’ said he, address- 
ing Victoria, after a short silence, the beauti- 
ful slave, Thai asses, regrets that she cannot im- 
mediately obey your commands, being at present 
subject to the power of the fairy Zephyrina, 
who has placed her in attendance on the mighty 
giant Poluflosboio. But if you will accept so 
poor a substitute as your unworthy cousin, he 
will endeavor to relate a history, though he will 
not promise that it shall be a charming one.’’ 

^‘Oh, that’s a good cousin!” said Victoria; 
and let it be a fairy tale, will you ? Do you 
know ? mamma has told us some nice fairy tales 
since you were here last. Did you ever hear 
about the Gnome and the Princess? ” 

have not been so fortunate. What is the 
story ? ” 

Oh ! I can’t tell you, but mamma wrote it 
down for us, and I will let you read it, cousin. 
It has such a funny moral, too.” 

“Yes,” observed Cecilia, archly; “and I think 
you keep your work-basket in better order since 
you read it. I don’t find your cotton-spools on 
the stairs, or your scissors on the carpet, as often 

I used to do,” 


116 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

“Ah I you need not say anything, Cecy,” re- 
torted Victoria ; “ for you work at your embroi- 
dery and crocheting, as hard as any princess 
could.” 

“And Cecy’s scissors are always at hand,” 
said Charles; “ I can bear witness to that. No- 
thing belonging to her is ever out of the way 
when it is wanted.” 

“ Well, cousin, have you thought of a story? ” 
interposed William. 

“ What kind of a story would you like ? ” 
asked Lewis. 

“ Oh, a grand story ! Something about knights 
and ladies, and giants and enchanters. Some- 
thing like what Charles was reading to Cecilia 
yesterday, about the knight that fought with 
the tiger.” 

“ What does he allude to ? ” said Lewis, turn- 
ing to Charles. 

“ * The Bridal of Triermain,’ I suppose. I 
was reading part of that to Cecilia.” 

“And a charming poem it is. Shall I tell you 
the ‘ Bridal of Triermain ’ ? ” 

“ Ves, cousin; but don’t tell it in poetry, if 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 117 


you please. There are so many things in poetry 
I don’t understand.” 

“A poem that is not in poetry ! ” said Lewis, 
smiling. “ The waters of Castaly are too strong 
for your head, eh? You like your poetry 
diluted. Let me see if I can mix you a draught 
of poetry and water.” 

Victoria drew her chair close to her cousin 
on one side, and William did the same on the 
other. 

^^Why is the story called ^The Bridal of 
Triermain’?” asked Victoria. 

“Because it tells how Eoland De Vaux, the 
Baron of Triermain, came to get married.” 

“Does it tell nothing but that?” said William. 

“ Oh, yes ; it tells of all he did to win his 
bride,” answered Lewis. “So, if you like, we 
will give the story a new name, and call it 

THE KING’S PROMISE; 

OB, 

FAINT HEART NEVER WON PAIR LADT ” 


118 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


PAET FIEST. 

Sir Eoland De Yaux, the youthful Baron of 
Triermain, was a determined bachelor, much 
to the vexation of many a fair and noble dam- 
sel, who would gladly have seen the handsome 
knight wearing her colors. But Sir Eoland 
was resolved never to marry unless he found a 
partner in all respects to his mind — a matter 
of no small difficulty, if the bard’s record of 
his requirements be correct : 

“ Where is the maiden of mortal strain, 

Who may match with the Baron of Triermain ? 
She must be lovely, and constant, and kind ; 
Holy, and pure, and humble of mind; 

Blithe of cheer, and gentle of mood ; 

Courteous, and generous, and noble of blood; 
Lovely as the sun’s first ray 
When it breaks the clouds of an April day ; 
Constant and true as the widowed dove, 

Kind as a minstrel that sings of love ; 

Pure as the fountain in rocky cave. 

Where never sunbeam kissed the wave ; 

Humble, as maiden that loves in vain ; 

Holy, as hermits’ vesper strain ; 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 119 


Gentle, as breeze that but whispers and dies, 

Yet blithe as the light leaves that dance in its sighs ; 
Courteous, as monarch the morn he is crowned ; 
Generous, as spring-dews that bless the glad ground ; 
Noble her blood, as the currents that met 
In the veins of the noblest Plantagenet ; — 

Such must her form be, her mood, and her strain, 
That shall match with Sir Koland of Triermain.” 

Such a constellation of charms and virtues 
was not often visible, even in the starry sky of 
the chivalric ages ; therefore it seemed probable 
that unless Sir Eoland consented to abate some- 
what of his demands, he might go to his grave 
unwedded. 

But early in the gray of an autumnal morn- 
ing, Sir Eoland started from his couch, sum- 
moned the attendants who kept watch in his 
ante-chamber, and hastily inquired of them, 
who had touched the harp so sweetly, and when 
or where passed out from the castle the beauti- 
ful lady who had visited his chamber. 

The chief minstrel, much astonished, answered, 
that he and his fellow-harpers had not struck a 
chord since midnight. 


120 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 

The Captain of the watch replied, that since 
the preceding nightfall not a foot had crossed 
the portal, or he should have heard it, had its 
tread been light and low as the fall of a with- 
ered leaf. 

Then the Baron called his favorite page, and 
said to him : 

“ Henry, take my fleetest courser, and ride to 
Lyulph’s Tower. Greet that venerable sage 
with deep respect, and say to him, that the Ba- 
ron of Triermain craves to know of his wisdom, 
if the fair form that visited his slumbers last 
night, be only a spirit of the elements, or a living 
maiden of middle earth. For if she be a living 
mortal, I swear by my knightly honor, that she, 
and she alone, shall be my bride.” 

The page mounted without delay, and rode 
forth to do his lord’s behest. When he drew 
near the tower, he saw the aged recluse sitting 
on a fragment of rock, over which nodded 
the restless leaves of an aspen-tree. Young 
Henry sprang from his saddle, and respect- 
fully approaching the sage, delivered his mas- 
ter’s message. Lyulph sat for a long time 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 121 

after Henry had ceased to speak, wrapt in deep 
thought, with his eyes bent upon the ground. 
At length he looked up, and, in slow and solemn 
accents, made answer thus : 

“The maiden is of middle earth, and is living 
and blooming in the brightness of her youth, 
although five hundred years have passed away 
since she was born. But where lives the knight 
that dares attempt the perilous adventure of her 
disenchantment? Listen, boy, and take good 
heed to what I shall tell thee, that thou mayst 
bear the tale truly to thy master.” 

LYULPH’S TALE. 

It was in the bright summer season that 
King Arthur mounted his steed, and rode forth 
from merry Carlisle. He went alone; for the 
bold and reckless monarch better loved to seek 
adventures as an errant knight, than to ride 
abroad in the state befitting a crowned king. 

He was clad in complete armor ; by his side 
hung the famous sword Caliburn,* and he bore 
in his right hand Tintadgel, his resistless spear. 

♦ Sometimes written Excalibor. 


11 


122 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

He rode gayly on, solacing his thoughts hy 
meditation on deeds of chivalry, until the long, 
bright, summer day drew to its close. His way 
had lain for some time through a gloomy forest. 
When he quitted it, he found himself in a val- 
ley paled in by lofty hills, and at some distance 
before him, rose a stately castle. The King 
reined in his steed and gazed at the building. 
Turret, buttress, and rampart, keep and tower, 
showed darkly massive against the setting sun. 
A deep moat surrounded the castle. The oaken 
wicket studded with iron, the pronged portcul- 
lis and raised drawbridge, betokened careful 
wardership. But no banner crowned the walls, 
no warder stood upon the watch-tower, no guard 
beside the bridge. Three times King Arthur 
rode round the moat. He saw no living thing, 
and heard no sound but the hooting of an owlet. 
He alighted from his horse, and climbed the 
rocky path that led to the outward entrance. 
He looked round again, and raised his bugle- 
horn to his mouth; but twice he raised and 
twice withdrew his hand, ere he gave voice to 
the summons. There was no fear in the mon 


LEGENDS VF FAIRY-LAND. 123 

arch’s heart ; liad a Paynirn army stood before 
him, he would have charged undauntedly through 
its ranks ; but the lifeless silence of the place 
sank ominously on his spirit. At last he sounded 
the bugle. Scarcely was the blast given, when 
the castle-gate was flung open, the portcullis 
arose, the drawbridge fell, and the vaulted arch- 
way lay open before him. Arthur dropped his 
bugle, placed his hand on the hilt of Caliburn, 
crossed the drawbridge, and entered the castle. 

The spacious hall was lighted by a hundred 
torches, whose blaze displayed to the astonished 
King, the inmates of this strange abode. No 
wizard nor goblin, no huge giant nor Paynirn 
knight was there ; but a band of beautiful dam- 
sels advanced, singing and dancing, to greet the 
stranger guest. A hundred sweet voices bade 
him welcome, a hundred snowy hands were 
outstretched to unclasp his armor. One maiden 
flung a costly mantle over his shoulders, another 
sprinkled perfumes on his hair, and a third 
placed on his head a myi’tle wreath. The King, 
meanwhile, plied them with questions; but gay 
laughs and sportive tricks were all their an 


124 LEGENDS OE FAIRY-LAND. 


swers. They flung over his arms chains of 
flowers, and strove to drag him onward, while 
behind him others bore his armor. Four of 
them united their strength to uplift the might3f 
Tintadgel ; two, laughing merrily, dragged Cali 
burn along between them ; and one essayed to 
place on her own fair head the massive helmet. 
Thus singing and laughing, they led their royal 
captive through many a gallery and hall, until 
they reached a gorgeous saloon, where sat the 
castle’s queen. Arthur had seen the fairest 
dames in Christendom, but never gazed he on 
aught so fair as the lady before whose throne 
he now made low obeisance. The lady received 
him with courtly welcome, prayed him to excuse 
the light mirth of her maidens, and to accept, 
for that night, the hospitalities of her castle. 
The King made fitting reply, and the lady gave 
him her fair hand to lead her to the banquet. 

Guendolen, the lady of the castle, was in sooth, 
beautiful and wise beyond all mortal women. 
Her mother had been a fair princess, her father, 
a spirit of the elements, one of that evil race 
who leagued with Paynim chiefs and foul en- 


LEGBNDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 125 

chanters against the true chivalry of Christen- 
dom. Guendolen was heir to all her father’s 
hatred of the Red Cross Knights. He trained 
her plastic youth to guileful arts, that when 
Christian warriors sought the hospitality of her 
dwelling, they might forget fame, faith, and duty, 
in the magic round of slothful pleasures. Too 
well did the wily lady practise the lessons taught 
her by her sire. Right glad was she of her royal 
guest, and fully did she task her witching powers, 
to lure him to prolong his stay. But Arthur 
wearied soon of hunting and hawking, of re- 
clining in bowers, and listening to lutes. He 
deemed the sound of the clarion sweeter than 
the song of maidens, and breathed freer amid 
the dust of the mellay * than in the odors of the 
garden. He spake to the lady of his throne 
and his duties, and said that he must soon bid 
her farewell. Guendolen entreated him to tarry 
longer, but Arthur courteously replied, that it 
might not be. 

must leave thee, lady,” he said; '‘but never 
shall I forget the gracious hospitality thou hast 


11 * 


* MiUe, Fr. 


126 LEGENDS OE FAIRY-LAND. 


shown to a wandering knight. And if thou 
ever deignest to crave a boon of British Arthur, 
I swear by sword and sceptre, that aught de- 
manded by thee, or one sent by thee, shall be 
granted, even to the half of my kingdom, so 
that naught be asked contrary to knightly honor 
and kingly duty.” 

Then the King mounted his horse, and rode 
forth from the castle. 


PART SECOND. 

Full fifteen years and more had sped, and 
Arthur, busied in gaining battles and quelling 
giants, had wellnigh forgotten the adventure of 
the Enchanted Castle. Great was the fame of 
King Arthur and his knights. Every young 
knight journeyed to the court of Britain, all 
who suffered causeless wrong, brought their 
complaint to Arthur’s presence, and never was 
his aid implored in vain. 

It was for this that the King held a solemn 
court at holy Whitsuntide. All who owed 
homage for their lands, all who had redress to 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 127 

crave or honors to seek, must then assemble 
before him, and not a knight of his host, save 
those who sought renown in Paynim lands, 
might be excused from appearing in his pres- 
ence. 

The feast was set in the vale of Eamont, and 
there were met the flower of British chivalry. 
Among them were the meek and manly Sir • il- 
ahad. Sir Morolt of the Iron Mace, the melan- 
choly Sir Tristrem, Sir Dinadan the Bright-eyed, 
Sir Sanval of the Fairy Spear, Sir Mordred, Sir 
Bruno, Sir Bevidere, loyal Sir Carodac, cour- 
teous Sir Gawaine, Sir Pellinore, and the far- 
famed Lancelot of the Lake. Ah! there was 
theme for minstrel lay 1 Never again shall Bri- 
tain’s throne be girt with ring so glorious! 

When the mirth and the wine sparkled 
brighest, while harpers played their blithest, 
and Beauty listened, blushing, to the whispered 
flatteries of Yalor, the sound of a distant trum- 
pet mingled shrilly with laugh and song. The 
marshals cleared the ring, and a veiled maiden, 
mounted on a snow-white palfrey, rode into the 
circle, and sprang from her saddle. She was 


128 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

attired as a huntress ; her bow and baldric were 
bedecked with gold, her feet were sandalled, and 
an eagle plume was fastened in her hair. Grace- 
fully she knelt before the King, and flung aside 
her veil ; and Arthur, starting from his seat, 
almost cried Guendolen I ” for he thought he 
saw before him the lady of the castle. 

Great Prince,” said the stranger, ^‘you behold 
Gyneth, an orphan maiden, come, in her departed 
mother’s name, to claim a boon promised to that 
mother, what time King Arthur sojourned at the 
Castle of the Yalley.” 

‘^And the pledge shall be well redeemed,” 
answered the monarch, raising the fair suppliant 
from where she knelt. “ What asks fair Gyneth 
of the King ? ” 

My liege,” replied the damsel, “ my mother 
bade me say to thee, that thou hadst sworn to 
her, as belted knight and British King, to grant 
whatever boon she, or one sent by her, should 
ask, even were it one-half of thy kingdom. She 
gives her orphan daughter to thy care ; and the 
boon she asks is, that thou wilt provide her 
Gyneth with a dowry and a bridegroom, fitting 
for her whose guardian is King Arthur.” 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 129 

up, my gallant knights!” exclaimed 
the King; ^Hake buckler, spear, and sword. The 
victor in this day’s tournament shall win a fair 
bride and a princely dower. Strath-Clyde and 
Eeged, the tower and the town of fair Carlisle, 
shall be young Gyneth’s portion.” 

Then loudly called the youthful knights to 
page and squire, to bring their steeds and ar- 
mor. There was arming and mounting in haste ; 
plumes and pennons tossed in the wind, steeds 
pranced, trumpets sounded, and the champions 
rode round the lists. At Arthur’s Bound Table 
that day sat fifty noble knights; of these, all 
but three had entered the lists to fight for that 
fair prize. King Arthur saw with alarm the 
flower of chivalry march by. They were the 
bulwarks of Christendom, the shields of the 
kingdom. Too late he bethought himself of 
the evils which must flow from his hasty prom- 
ise ; for well he knew that many a gallant heart 
would be cold in death, ere that day’s tourney 
ended. He took the maiden’s hand, and led her 
apart. 

‘^Gyneth,” said he, ‘Hhou seest I keep my 
I 


130 L K G E X 1) S 0 V FA III Y- L A N D. 

word. Take thou my warder, as Queen of 
Beauty, and umpire of the fight. But, mark 
me, as man should be brave, so woman should 
be pitiful. As Beauty’s smile is Valor’s dearest 
guerdon, so noble maid should never bid her 
knight to vain and useless peril. I tell thee 
this, for no stripling warriors are these, who 
need succor for a rased helmet or falling steed. 
Blithely, at the trumpet-call, let them ride to 
the encounter, fairly let them exchange blow for 
blow, but let them not urge tourney into war. 
When blood grows hot, and strife waxes fierce, 
then, Gyneth, thy friend entreats, thy king com- 
mantis, throw down the warder, bid the contest 
cease. Trust thy future fortune to my hands — 
doubt not I will choose thee noble mate ; but 
let it not be said that Gyneth’s pride caused one 
rose to fall from Arthur’s wreath of chivalry.” 

An angry cloud darkened on Gyneth’s brow ; 
she put aside the warder. Eeserve thy boon, 
my liege,” said the proud maiden, “ for one of 
less degree than I. No petty chief of a solitary 
tower and barren hill, but holds his sunburned 
daughter in more honor than Britain’s king 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY- LAND. 131 

holds me. King Arthur swore by sword and 
sceptre, as belted knight and crowned king, to 
grant the boon that Guendolen should ask him. 
Recall thy boon I Poor Gyneth can return to 
her orphan loneliness ; but not on her will rest 
the stain of knightly oath forsworn. And all 
too many tales hath she heard of man’s falsehood 
and cruelty, that she should pity when their 
doom they undergo. She will be bride to the 
bravest, or to none.” 

So spake she ; for, trained by her mother in 
hatred to the Red Cross Knights, she quelled 
perforce the softness that would fain have pleaded 
in her maiden bosom. 

King Arthur frowned and sighed. '' Too 
late,” said he, mark thy mother’s influence 
steeling thy young heart. Use, then, my warder 
as thou wilt. I give what I may not withhold ; 
for not for danger, dread, or death must knight- 
hood’s vow be broken. But trust me, Gyneth, 
if life be spilt in this aifray, thou wilt lose for- 
ever thy place in Arthur’s love.” 

He ceased ; for shrill fell the trumpet sum- 
mons on his ear. Then, for the first time, did 


132 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 

' Britain’s hero turn aside from sight of martial 
daring. 

The gentlest lady might, for a while, untrou- 
bled view the glorious strife of chivalry. So well 
accomplished in feats of arms was each brave 
knight, that many a goodly blow was given and 
taken, ere aught rued the encounter save shorn 
plume and dinted cuirass. But soon too earnest 
grew their game, — the spears drew blood, the 
swords struck fire ; horse and man came to the 
ground; shields were cleft, crests defaced, and 
steel coats riven. Gone too were fence and fair 
array; desperate strength dealt deadly blow, 
and twenty valiant knights already lay gasping 
on the ground. King Arthur beat his breast 
in agony, and even proud Gyneth, spite of her 
mother’s cruel lessons, quaked with fear and pity. 

Still fiercely raged the fight. Sir Yanoc, 
youngest of the band, the fair-haired Vanoc, 

, pressed by mighty Sir Morolt even to the con- 
fines of the lists, sank, overpowered and bleed- 
ing, before Gyneth’s footstool. Then sudden 
darkness overspread the sky, a rushing blast 
howled across the plain, the earth opened in the 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 133 


middle of the lists, and from the gulf arose the 
awful form of Meklin the Enchanter. 

Sternly the Wizard- Prophet eyed the bloody 
scene ; sternly he raised his wand. 

“Madmen,” he cried, “forbear your strife ; and 
thou, fair cause of mischief, hear the doom thy 
ruthless pride hath wrought thee ; 

“ Long shall close, in stony sleep, 

Eyes for ruth that would not weep ; 

Iron lethargy shall seal 
Heart that pity would not feel. 

Yet, because thy mother’s art 
Warped thy unsuspicious heart. 

And for love of Arthur’s race. 

Punishment is blest with grace : 

Thou Shalt bear thy penance lone 
In the valley of St. John ; 

And this weird shall overtake thee — 

Sleep until a knight shall wake thee, 

For feats of arms as far renowned 
As warrior of the Table Round. 

Long endurance of thy slumber 
Well may teach the world to number 
All its woes from Gyneth's pride. 

When the Red Cross champions died.*' 


134 LEGENDS OF FAIRY^LAND. 

As Merlin spake, slumber began to weigh 
down the maiden’s eyelids. Vainly strove fear 
and anger with the mighty spell. Twice she 
drew her hand across her brow ; twice she es- 
sayed in vain to rise. Merlin’s doom was spoken, 
and Yanoc’s death must be avenged. Slowly 
fell the dark-fringed eyelids over the azure orbs 
below ; her head drooped on* her shoulder ; the 
net of pearl that enclosed her silken tresses, 
bursting, gave the bright curls to flow over 
white neck and rounded arm; and so lovely 
looked she, spellbound in her ivory chair, that 
the angry monarch, relenting, craved of the 
Wizard to undo the charm, and the yet living 
champions would have renewed the combat for 
her sake. But as they turned defying looks 
upon each other, Gyneth vanished from their 
sight. 

Five hundred years since then have passed 
and gone, and still the maiden bears her lonely 
weird in the Castle of the Valley. Often does 
her semblance mingle in a champion’s dream, 
plaining of her weary lot, and craving aid to 
break the spell. While the wondrous tale was 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 135 


new, warriors came to her rescue from east and 
west from north and south. Most have sought 
the glen in vain ; for not at every time and tide, 
not by every eye, can the Enchanted Castle be 
discerned. Fast and vigil must be borne, and 
many a night spent in lonely watching, ere mor- 
tal sight may discern the magic towers. Of 
those permitted to behold them, many have 
shrunk back from the perilous task when they 
read the threat engraven on the portal. Few 
have braved the terrors of the castle, and those 
few returned no more. Gyneth’s weird is well- 
nigh forgotten in the lapse of time. Sound she 
sleeps as though the castle were a tomb. 

END OF LYULPH’S TALE. 


PART THIRD. 

Had not the remembrance of the beautiful vi- 
sion been sufficient, the wondrous story brought 
by the page from the hermit would have urged 
Roland De Yaux to the adventure. But be- 
fore he sought the Enchanted Valley, he went 
to crave counsel and blessing of the holy Lyulph, 


186 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND 


"My son,” said the old man, "if thon goest 
on this marvellous quest only with courage to 
dare, and strength to do, the meanest md-n-at- 
arms that rides beside thy banner may contest 
the prize as hopefully as thou. Even he who 
fights for fair renown, if he have no higher mo- 
tive than to win the praise of men, has set his 
foot but on the lowest step of glory’s ladder. 
Canst thou resist temptation, forgive injury, en- 
dure affliction, and persevere against disappoint- 
ment ? Canst thou remember mercy in victory, 
and humility in triumph ? ” 

Perhaps the thought arose in Poland’s mind, 
that these qualities savored more of the saint 
than the soldier ; but reverence for old age was 
numbered among the gentlemanly virtues of 
that period, and the young knight respectfully 
answered, that such should be his endeavor. 

"It is well,” replied the sage. "Bear in mind, 
my son, that, though valor may make a warrior^ 
valor alone cannot make a hero. He who seeks 
to earn that glorious name must be single in 
the motive, noble in the act, and unselfish in the 
end. Such, I trust, wilt thou be. Kneel down, 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 137 

Roland De Yaux, and receive an old man’s bless- 
ing — then speed thee on thy way.” 

The summer moon was twelve nights old 
when Roland began his watch in the Yalley of 
St. John. Quiet and cool her light shone upon 
the valley. Night sped — morning dawned, 
and still the green valley, with its clustering 
rocks, lay fair and motionless before him. Day 
after day, night after night, he kept his untiring 
vigil ; he seldom slept, fed sparingly, and drank 
only the water of the rivulet. It was on the 
last night of the declining moon, when the gath- 
ering clouds and rising wind betokened a storm ; 
the thunder rolled heavily, the lightning blazed, 
and the rain came down in torrents. De Yaux 
sought a momentary shelter within a shallow 
cavern; and there, seated on the ground, his 
head leaning against the rocky side of the cell, 
he sank into a troubled slumber. 

From this he was aroused by the deep tolling 
of a bell. Starting up, he rushed to the entrance 
of the cavern. The rain had ceased, and the 
only sounds he could hear, were the wailing of 

the wind and the rush of the swollen brook 
12 * 


138 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

He stood wondering whether he had really heard 
the bell, or only dreamed of hearing it, and peer- 
ing, with strained eye and ear, into the silent 
darkness. Suddenly, upon the northern sky, 
uprose a fiery meteor, which rolled slowly to- 
ward the zenith, illuminating the whole valley 
with its crimson light. 

De Yaux had watched the rocks as the setting 
sunbeams faded from their summits, and he then 
saw nothing but crags flung together at random, 
and towering high above the little rivulet. Now, 
where they had stood, his astonished eyes beheld 
a bannered castle, with keep, tower, and but- 
tress, barbican and ballium, all distinctly visible. 
He rushed down the hill ; but, suddenly as it 
shone, the meteor vanished, and utter darkness 
again enshrouded the valley. He paused per- 
force, and sounded his bugle. Distinctly he 
heard an answering trumpet-note, and sounds 
followed as when a castle-guard paces its nightly 
round. He blew his challenge-blast again ; this 
time no answer was returned. The storm re- 
commenced; but Eoland, unheeding its fury, 
paced the valley until day-dawn. Then, cold, 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 139 

gray, and rugged, uprose the rocks before 
him. 

Roland had need of all Lyulph’s philosophy 
that day, but he faltered not in his determina- 
tion to pursue the adventure. Another month 
waxed and waned, and still he kept his daily 
and nightly watch. It was again the last night 
of the moon’s decline, when, just as her last 
faint ray faded before the daybreak, a summer 
mist arose in the valley, and soon wrapped vale 
and hill, rock and rivulet in its fantastic drapery. 
De Vaux stood leaning against a tree, with his 
arms folded on his breast, and his eyes turned 
in the direction of the rocks. Presently, a light 
breeze sweeping along the valley, stirred the 
mist, and once more he saw tower and battle- 
ment show dimly through the vapory veil. 
Grasping his battle-axe, he bounded down the 
hill; but as he neared the mound, the mist 
floated away, the rocks stood grim and shape- 
less, and a mocking laugh echoed throughout 
the dell. 

^^Am I then fooled by malicious fiends ? ” ex- 
claimed the knight. Is Roland De Vaux the 


140 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND 

scorn of elves and wizards? False spirits, 
avaunt!” and he hurled his battle-axe at a jut- 
ting crag. Down fell the rock in crashing ruin, 
and, lol a winding stair, broken and moss- 
grown, became apparent behind it. Commend- 
ing himself to his patron saint, De Yaux sprang 
up the ascent. Eye, hand, and foot were tasked 
as he scaled the perilous height. The dew of toil 
was on his limbs, and his brown cheek flushed 
to crimson ; but the topmost step was mounted : 
he sprang upon a stony platform, and there, 
within three lances’ length of him — there stood 
the Enchanted Castle 1 No meteor-blazoned 
show deceived him now; no phantom of the 
mist quivered before his sight, — massive, grand, 
and realf the fortress towered above him. De 
Yaux bowed his head, and clasped his hands in 
thankful ecstasy. Then, approaching the gate, 
he applied himself to decipher the inscription 
graven above it in rude and ancient characters : 

INSCRIPTION. 

Patience waits the destined day; 

Strength can clear the cumbered way. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 141 


Warrior, who hast waited long, 

Firm of soul, of sinew strong. 

It is given to thee to gaze 
On the pile of ancient days. 

Never mortal builder’s hand 
This enduring fabric planned. 

Sign and sigil, word of power. 

From the earth raised keep and tower. 

View it o’er, and pace it round. 

Rampart, turret, battled mound. 

Dare no more. To cross the gate 
Were to tamper with thy fate ; 

Strength and fortitude were vain : 

View it o’er, and turn again.” • 

Turn again ! ” said Sir Roland, when he had 
made out the meaning of the lines ; that I 
might do if my frame were bent and my heart 
chilled. But while my blood dances gayly 
through my veins, and this right arm wields 
sword or battle-axe as lightly as maiden’s hand 
would toss a lily, no wizard warning scares 
back Roland De Vaux.” 

So saying, he raised his mailed right hand, 
and struck heavily upon the gate. Instantly 


142 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

the bars fell, the rusty bolts flew back, and the 
gate opened to admit him. But when he had 
crossed the threshold, and passed under the 
vaulted archway, an unseen arm flung close the 
gate, and bolt and bar sprang to their places. 

The trap is shut, and the prey within, of a 
surety,” muttered the knight to himself as he 
sped forward. 

The vaulted passage led to the outer court of 
the castle. There the main fortress spread its 
long array of bowers and halls; but between 
the passage and the inner portal, there lay a 
broad moat, clear, profound, and silent, with 
neither bridge nor boat to help De Yaux across. 
But knights were always prepared for emergen- 
cies ; Roland knew how to swim. Off went his 
armor; and a handsome fellow he must have 
looked, as he stood on the brink of the moat, in 
his close-fitting doublet and hose, tall, straight, 
and graceful; his short, dark curls clustering 
over his well-shaped head, his clear eyes and 
crimson lips bright with bold resolve, and his 
trusty sword grasped in his strong right hand. 

The moat was soon and safely crossed. Ro- 


LEGENDS DF FAIRY-LAND. 143 

land pushed open the unbolted portal, and en> 
tered a spacious hall. There, blazoned on ever;y 
panel, were mighty feats of chivalry, done by 
the champions of olden time, limned in form 
and coloring so bright and true that the pictures 
seemed to live before the eye. For a short 
space Koland paused to gaze upon these mar- 
vels ; then he passed to the upper end of the 
chamber, where three steps ascended to an 
arched door. In one of the broad, folding 
valves of this door was a little wicket window- 
grate, and the knight deemed it only discreet to 
look through the opening before he unclosed 
the door. 

Oh, for his armor ! Never had mortal knight 
more need of it. He saw before him a stately 
gallery of white marble, and, in strange contrast 
to the snowy hue of the walls and floor, on 
either side of the portal stood two negro maid- 
ens. Each one of them bore on her shoulders 
a quiver filled with arrows, and in her right 
hand a javelin, while the left hand restrained, 
by a leash of golden thread, a Libyan tiger. 
So silent and motionless stood the fearful group, 


144 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 

that Eoland at first thought he beheld a band 
of statues ; but while he stood at the wicket, 
the grisly beasts began to scent the air and lick 
their terrible jaws, while the dark maidens 
chanted thus : 

“ Eash adventurer, bear thee back ! 

Dread the spell of Dahomey ! 

Fear the race of Zaharak, 

Daughters of the burning day ! 

“ When the whirlwind’s gusts are wheeling, 

Ours it is the dance to braid ; 

Zarah’s sands, in pillars reeling, 

Join the measure that we tread. 

When the moon has donned her cloak, 

And the stars are red to see. 

Shrill when pipes the sad Siroc, 

Music meet for such as we. 

“ Where the shattered columns lie. 

Showing Carthage once had been, 

If the wandering Sau ton’s eye 
Our mysterious rites hath seen, 

Oft he cons the prayer of death, 

To the nations preaches doom ; 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 145 

‘Azrael’s brand hath left tbe sheath ! 

Moslems, think upon the tomb ! ' 

“ Ours the scorpion, ours the snake, 

Ours the hydra of the fen ; 

Ours the tiger of the brake ; 

All that plagues the sons of men. 

Ours the tempest’s midnight wrack ; 

Pestilence that wastes by day. 

Dread the race of Zaharak, 

Fear the spell of Dahomey ! ” 

While the echoes of this warning song re* 
sounded along the vaulted roof, Roland contem- 
plated the fearful odds before him. When I 
first took this adventure,” thought he, “ I swore 
by knighthood’s holiest oath, never to stop, nor 
turn, nor rest, for evil or for good, until Gy- 
neth’s thrall were broken. My only onward 
path lies between these fearful ranks ; and, for 
an unarmed man, I wot ’t is task of little hope 
to do battle against fiends and tigers. Shall I 
draw back r Never. Roland De Yaux may 
perish, but it shall be in doing his devoir.” He 

looked round, caught down a banner that hung 
13 K 


146 LEGENDS OF FAIRx LAND. 

upon tlie wall, unsheathed his swoid, and en- 
tered the gallery. Each maiden uttered a wild 
shriek, and poised her javelin, while on either 
hand a tiger sprang against him. He flung the 
ready banner over the head of the left, entan- 
gling and binding him in its folds, and struck 
the right-hand monster so powerful a blow, that 
the trenchant blade passed sheerly through 
spine and gullet, laying the terrible creature 
dead at his feet. The two remaining tigers 
leaped and howled ; but the maidens held them 
back by their slight leashes, and De Yaux, un- 
harmed, strode on between them. Safely he 
passed to the upper end of the gallery, and 
safely crossed the threshold of the open portal, 
while, mingling with the growl and roar of the 
tigers, he heard the rejoicing chorus of the 
maidens : 

Hurra ! hurra ! our watch is done ! 

We hail once more the tropic sun. 

Pallid beams of northern day, 

Farewell ! farewell ! Hurra ! Hurra ! 

Five hundred years o’er this cold glen 

Hath the pale sun come round agen ; 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 147 

* 

Foot of man, till now, hath ne’er 
Dared to cross the Hall of Fear. 

Warrior, thou whose dauntless heart 
Gives us from our ward to part, 

Be as strong in future trial, 

Where resistance is denial. 

Now for Afric’s glowing sky, 

Zwenga wide, and Atlas high ! 

Zaharak and Dahomey ! 

Mount the winds ! — Hurra ! hurra 1 

Th(5 wizard song died in the distance, and 
Koland pursued his way from hall to hall, until 
he came to a lofty rotunda, in which lay gold, 
silver, and jewels, piled in such mountain-like 
heaps, that the knight began to think he beheld 
the treasury of the world. In the centre of the 
floor stood four dark-brown damsels; their shin- 
ing black hair was bound with cotton fillets, and 
they carried palmetto baskets in their hands. 
They were slender in shape and timid in mien ; 
and as De Yaux approached, they bowed their 
heads, and knelt before him, singing, while they 
pointed to the heaps of treasure : 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY -LAND. 
Chorus. 

See the treasures Merlin piled, 

Portion meet for Arthur’s child ; 

Bathe in Wealth’s unbounded stream — 
Wealth that Avarice ne’er could dream. 

First Maiden. 

See these clots of virgin gold, 

Severed from the sparry mould ; 
Nature’s mystic alchemy 
In the mine thus bade them lie ; 

And their Orient smile can win 
Kings to stoop, and saints to sin. 

Second Maiden. 

See these pearls that long have slept, 
These were tears by Naiads wept 
For the loss of Marinel : 

Tritons in the silver shell 
Treasured them, till hard and white 
As the teeth of Amphitrite. 

Third Maiden. 

Does a livelier hue delight ? 

Here are rubies, blazing bright ; 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 149 


Here the emerald’s fairy-green, 

And the topaz glows between ; 

Here their various tints unite 
In the changeful chrysolite. 

Fourth Maiden, 

Leave these gems of poorer shine, 

Leave them all, and look on mine : 

While their glories I expand. 

Shade thine eyebrows with thy hand ; 
Midday sun and diamonds’ blaze 
Blind the rash beholder’s gaze. 

Chorus. 

Warrior, seize the splendid store ; 

Would ’t were all our mountains bore 1 
We should ne’er, in future story. 

Read, Peru, thy perish’d glory. 

Calmly Roland De Yaux cast his untempted 
eyes upon the treasures. ^‘Courteous maidens,” 
said he, Honor is knighthood’s brightest jewel, 
and Renown its richest treasure. These gems 
are fitter to deck the hair of ladies, than the hel- 
met of a soldier. For your gold and silver, all 
13 * 


150 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

that a true knight needs, is, enough to relieve 
distress, and recompense good service. Kise, 
then, I praj you, and bar no longer my onward 
path.” So, gently putting the damsels aside, he 
left the Dome of Wealth. 


PART FOURTH. 

It was now near the hour of noon, and Ro- 
land, weary and thirsty, — as he well might 
be, — rejoiced to hear the sound of falling water. 
He hastened toward it, and emerged from a pil- 
lared arcade into a garden, where a fountain 
was sparkling in the sun. On right and left, 
stretched a fair perspective of walks and arbors, 
but directly in front of him, on the opposite side 
of the fountain, stood a ruinous arch, the low, 
dark door of which seemed the entrance of a 
burial vault. 

Roland drank deeply of the refreshing waters. 
He bathed his glowing face and hands, and 
seated himself on the mossy verge of the foun- 
tain. While he sat there, the breeze came cooi 
from the gardens, the dewy spray of the waters 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 151 

fell witli a pattering murmur into the marble 
basin, and, lulled by these soft influences, his 
eyes half closed, and it was in a sort of waking 
slumber, that he listened to a distant strain of 
music. Gradually it sounded louder and nearer, 
and trooping from the many arbors came a gay 
procession of beautiful damsels. They linked 
hands, and circled round the knight in a fantas- 
tic dance, singing — 

Gentle Knight, awhile delay, 

Take not yet the toilsome way ; 

Let us pay the duty due 
To a warrior bold as you. 

Stay, then, gentle warrior, stay ! 

Rest till evening steal on day. 

Stay ! oh, stay ! — in yonder bowers 
We will braid thy locks with flowers, 

Spread the feast, and fill the wine. 

Charm thine ear with sounds divine, 

Weave our dances, till delight 

Yields to languor, day to night. • 

Then, gentle Knight, awhile delay, 

Tempt not yet the dangerous way. 


152 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

Twice, while they sang, Boland strove to rise, 
twice his languid eyelids reclosed, and his weary 
limbs sank back upon the grass. But the sense 
of duty, the hve of honor, were waking still in 
the young hero’s heart, and as the song ceased, 
he made a third desperate effort, shook off' the 
bewildering trance, and sprang to his feet. Close 
pressed the lovely dancers, and sought, with 
sweet words and sweeter smiles, to arrest his 
footsteps. “Only for a little time,” they pleaded — 
only that rest and food might renew his strength 
for perils yet to come. 

Brave knight! faithful lover! true gentle- 
man ! there was no cynic rudeness in thy mien ; 
for there was no self-indulgent weakness in thy 
heart. It is the consciously infirm of purpose, 
who seek so often to conceal the soul’s frailty 
by the lip’s harshness. The strong can dare to 
be gentle. Tenderly he unlocked the clinging 
hands of some, smiled kindly on the playful 
antics of others, spoke to them all in courteous 
words, but held his high resolve unaltered. 

“Kind maidens,” said he, “farewell. My 
duty lies onward, and with it goes my heart.” 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 153 

He said, and springing forward, vanished from 
their sight behind the portal of the vault ; but 
as he groped his way along the gloom, he still 
heard the sweet voices of the maidens, singing : 

Fair Flower of Courtesy, depart ! 

Go, where the feelings of the heart 

With the warm pulse in concord move. 

Go, where Virtue sanctions Love ! 

For a long time after the portal closed between 
Eoland and the Garden of Pleasure, he went 
on, and on, and on, until he began to think that 
there was neither issue nor retreat from the 
labyrinth of dark vaults and narrow passages. 
Even in the dismal path he pursued, foul vapors 
clogged his breathing, deep pits were to be 
leaped, and sullen waters waded; tottering rocks 
and noisome reptiles abounded, and the ghastly 
mine-fires which flitted at intervals before him, 
showed, but scarcely assisted him to shun, the 
surrounding dangers. At length, the panting, 
half-smothered knight decided, that of the two 
disagreeable positions, he would rather choose 
to encounter the tigers in the Hall of Fear, than 


154 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


wander longer in these loathsome caverns. Yet 
still he struggled onward — onward! the only 
path for Yalor and Virtue, — and suddenly a 
trumpet-blast rang out close to his ear, and as 
it ceased, a chorus of bold voices became 
audible. 

Son of Honor ! theme of story ! 

Think on the reward before ye ; 

Danger, darkness, toil despise — 

’T is Ambition bids you rise. 

He that would her heights ascend, 

Many a weary step must wend ; 

Hand, and foot, and knee he tries: 

Thus Ambition’s minions rise. 

Lag not now, though rough the way, 

Fortune’s mood brooks no delay ; 

Grasp the boon that ’s spread before ye — 

Monarch’s power and conqueror’s glory I 

De Yaux, following the direction of the 
sounds, found that the earth began to slope 
upward, and shortly he arrived at a flight of 
pteps. He began to ascend them, and as he 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 155 

mounted, a faint light dawned upon his eyes,, 
and the air blew freshly upon his streaming’ 
brow. At length the height was climbed, and 
the adventurer stepped into a lofty hall adorned 
with imperial trophies. 

Here, also, stood four maidens; three clad 
alike in crimson robes, confined to the waist by 
golden girdles. The first was a pretty brunette, 
whose easy air and sprightly expression marked 
her as a daughter of France. Tall, slender, 
dark-eyed, dark-haired, graceful, and stately, 
the next was a maid of Spain ; while- the blue 
eyes, ivory skin, and golden tresses of the third, 
bespoke her a native of Germany. These maid- 
ens stood together, bearing a crown, a sceptre, 
and a royal robe. The fourth stood a little 
behind them, leaning upon a harp. She was 
attired as an ancient British Druidess, and in 
one hand she held a wreath of laurel. 

At once the three foremost maidens advanced 
to Koland De Yaux, and kneeling down, paid 
him the homage due to a king, and proffered 
the robe, crown, and sceptre. De Yaux shook 
his head in refusal. “Fair damsels,” sfiid he. 


166 LEGENDS OF FAIRY. LAND 


*^Eoland de Yaux is a freeborn English knight, 
and is contented with that title, and so much 
more of greatness, as his own deeds may earn.” 

He would have passed on, when the fourth 
maiden, starting as from a trance, swept the 
chords of her harp, and sang 

Song of the Fourth Maiden. 

Quake to your foundations deep, 

Stately towers and bannered keep ! 

Bid your vaulted echoes moan, 

As the dreaded step they own. 

Fiends that wa\t on Merlin’s spell I 
Hear the footfalj, — mark it well. 

Spread your dusky wings abroad, 

Boune ye for your homeward road. 

It is Aw, the first who e’er 
Dared to cross the Hall of Fear, — 

-5w, who hath the snares defied 
Spread by Pleasure, Wealth, and Pride. 

Quake to your foundations deep. 

Bastion huge, and turret steep ! 

Tremble, keep ! and totter, tower! 

This is Gyneth’s waking hour. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 157 

The persevering knight had now reached a 
chamber where the light fell soft and warm 
through crimson draperies. Much there was in 
this chamber, of rich and rare to gaze at; but 
of all the wonderful things there collected or 
pictured, the fairest was the sleeping Gjneth. 
There she sat, spellbound, in her ivory chair, 
the eagle plume still in her hair. King Arthur’s 
truncheon still in her grasp, her brown locks 
still flowing dishevelled over her snowy neck ; 
there she was, the same bright form of sylvan 
loveliness, that had visited Roland’s dream. He 
stood for a little while, motionless with delight, 
gazing at the sleeping inajden. Then he gently 
took ber hand, and raised it to his lips. Imme- 
diately the lightning began to flash, the thunder 
rolled, and the massive fortress rocked as if 
shaken by an earthquake. Gyneth started from 
her sleep — the castle- walls burst asunder with a 
fearful noise, He Yaux caught the lady in his 
arms, all grew dark around them, and when 
the magic night dispersed, the hero found him- 
self standing again before the rocks in the Yal- 

ley of St. John. Gyneth’s hand was clasped in 

14 


168 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 

his, and the laurel wreath of the Druidess was 
on his head. And these were all that remained 
of the treasures of the Enchanted Castle — the 
Laurel and the Lady; — but DeYaux was sat- 
isfied with these : 

For where should warrior seek the meed 
Due to high worth for daring deed, 

Except from Love and Fame? 


^^And they got married then, of course?” said 
Yiptoria. 

“And lived very happily ever after,” said Wil- 
liam. “All fairy tales say that.” 

“Of course,” replied Lewis, laughing; “but 
unless the lady’s long nap had tamed her temper 
a little, from what it was on the day of the 
tournament, I suspect that the gallant knight 
was somewhat henpecked.” 

“ Oh 1 but, cousin,” said Cecilia, “ you should 
remember, it was her mother’s wicked teaching 
that made Gyneth behave so cruelly. I dare 
say she grew mild and kind after she awoke. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 159 

particularly when she found how brave and 
good Sir Koland was, and what dangers he had 
encountered for her sake.” 

“For Roland’s my good little cousin, 

I hope your charitable surmise was verified.” 

“Koland must have felt pretty badly when 
he saw the live tigers,” said William. 

“ I think he was worst off in the dark vaults,” 
said Victoria. 

“ I liked him best when he refused the trea- 
sures and the kingdoms,” said Cecilia. 

“‘Well,” said Charles, “/ do not think any 
trial so great as that of his patience, when he 
watched in the valley. Better do anything, than 
have nothing to do.” 

“bTow,” said William, “/ think the hardest 
thing of all was to leave the nice garden. He 
had to fight the tigers, or let them eat him ; and 
he had to get out of the vaults, or die there — 
he had not much of a choice ; but when he was 
in such a nice, cool, shady place, and the ladies 
invited him to stay to dinner ” — 

A general laugh interrupted William, who 
looked rather disconcerted. 


160 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 

^^Stay to dinner I” repeated Cecilia. 
dear I Who ever heard of a hero staying to din- 
ner? They partake of a slight repast, William, 
or sit down to a splendid banquet, or — ” 

^‘Well,” interrupted William, rather sulkily, 
it comes to the same thing — they eat and 
drink.” 

^‘Yes, indeed,” said Lewis; “and well they 
may, with such calls upon their strength of 
body. W alter Scott^s heroes are capital trencher-, 
men ; and how the people do feast in Eastern 
tales ! Did you never long for sherbet and 
sweetmeats, Cecilia, while you were reading the 
Arabian Nights ? ” * 

“ I have, often,”’ said Charles ; “ and Philip 
Quarll and Kobinson Crusoe always made me 
hungry.” 

“Well, for all that,” persisted William, “I say 
it was harder for Sir Roland to get up and quit 
that pretty garden, when he was hungry and 
tired, than anything else.” 

Mr. Howard had for some time laid down his 
newspaper, and Mrs. Howard her book, to lis- 
ten to Lewis’s narrative, and Mr. Howard now 
came to William’s assistance. 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 161 

’'‘You are right in the principle, William, al- 
though you do not know how to express your 
. self clearly. It often requires less effort to defy 
a threat, than to resist an allurement. Perhaps 
•the standard of individual heroism is, that right 
thing which we feel it most difficult to do. Charles’s 
impatience, Cecilia’s desire for power, Victoria’s 
fear of darkness, and William’s love of personal 
comfort, are all manifest in their several opinions 
respecting Poland’s trials. The beautiful poem 
from which you took your narrative,” continued 
Mr. Howard, addressing Lewis, “has always been 
an especial favorite of mine. Poland De Vaux 
is the type of a virtuous and energetic will, over- 
coming all obstacles, resisting all temptations^ 
and defying all dangers, in pursuit of its one 
great object. And his manners I like, as well 
as his morals ; his reverence for age, his cour- 
tesy to wo-man. Poland De Vaux is a gentleman, 
certainly.” 

“I should like to be a -heroine,” said Cecilia. 

“What,” said Lewis, “and spend your days, 
as somebody says, in embroidering banners, and 

waving handkerchiefs out of turret windows ? ” 
14* L , 


162 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

replied Cecilia, wiili somewliat height- 
ened color ; but I should like to be a beautiful, 
noble lady. I should like to be honored and 
admired. I should like to have brave knights 
doing great deeds for the sake of my favor. I 
should like to be such a woman as Jane De 
Montfort. The noble knights who helped her 
to defend her husband’s castle, thought it reward 
enough to be thanked by her, and permitted to 
kiss her hand.” 

“ The homage paid to woman in the chivalric 
ages,” said Mr. Howard, had its rise in a very 
natural and ennobling sentiment — the appreci- 
ation of the Beautiful and the Good. The 
knight’s devotion to his lady during the palmy 
days of chivalry, was an unselfish admiration 
of fine qualities. The knight very often had 
never spoken to the lady to v^(bse service he 
vowed himself; often he had never seen her; 
sometimes never expected to see her — but fame 
reported her noble, beautiful, and virtuous — 
that was enough, and he was satisfied to deserve 
her approbation. This devotion, being carried 
to excess, like many other good things, degen- 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 163 

erated until its nature was changed. It first 
became fantastic, then silly, and, at length, 
wrong.” 

^^The knightly character, rightly understood, 
was a noble one,” observed Mrs. Howard. 

^‘Yes,” replied Mr. Howard; ^Hhe knight 
was required to be brave, loyal, and pure; true to 
his word, fearless in danger, steadfast in tempta 
tion ; a thorough-going friend, a constant lover, 
an honorable enemy, a- generous benefactor ; the 
guardian of the weak, the avenger of the 
wronged, the resister of oppression. Why do 
we all love and honor Don Quixote, even in his 
most ludicrous mishaps ? Because his motives 
are so pure, his self-renunciation so perfect.” 

Uncle, you will make me wish myself a 
hero,” said Lewis ; “ but alas I 

engage at-tourneys now, 

But those who go to law.’ 

‘The Pen is mightier than the Sword* nowadays, 
as Kichelieu says ; and, as Lowell says, 

‘ Mini4 is good ; but, spite of change, 
Quitemhergs gun has the longest range.’ ” 


164 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

** Sword and gun both were made to do good 
service in the late war, cousin/’ said Charles. 

“Yes, indeed,” replied Lewis, enthusiastically. 
“Deeds were done of which any of Chivalry’s 
paladins might have been proud ; and ladies 
fair and gentle as any Oriana of romance, 
wrought by hundreds at toils of mercy in hos- 
pitals and battle-fields.” 

“Nothing need prevent you from becoming a 
hero, Lewis,” said his aunt ; “ nor you, Cecilia, 
from being a heroine. The ‘fields of enterprise 
are changed, not narrowed. Eoland De Yaux 
encountered no foes more dangerous, no horrors 
more appalling, than did Elisha Kent Kane, 
during his Arctic Explorations. The African 
tigers were not more fierce than the Polar bears^ 
nor could the darkness of the vault have weighed 
more wearily on the spirits, than the icy silence 
of the Frigid Zone. Endurance, that true test 
of moral courage, was carried by Kane to its 
utmost. Moreover, Sir Eoland had only him- 
self to think of; our hero’s generous heart was 
wrung by witnessing the sufferings of others — 
sufferings which he was unable to relieve; and 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 166 


his conscientiousness must have been cruelly 
tortured by the sense of' responsihility, when 
power was denied.” 

“ That reminds me,” said Lewis, taking out 
his pocket-book, “of a noble tribute to the 
memory of Kane, which I cut out of the ‘ Home 
Journal ' the other day. The author is an Eng- 
lishman, Mr. Fitz- James O’Brien,* and his poem 
is worthy of its subject.” 

He selected from his papers a printed scrap, 
and presented it to his aunt. 

“ Bead it to us, if you please, Lewis,” said she. 
Lewis read as follows : 

KANE. — Died 16th February, 1857. 

Aloft, upon an old basaltic crag, 

Which, scalped by keen winds that defend the Pole, 
Gazes, with dead face, on the seas that rolh 
Around the secret of the mystic zone, 

A mighty nation’s star-bespangled flag 
Flutters alone. 

* Of Fitz-James O’Brien, the brave soldier and accomplished 
gentleman, nothing now remains to the world but a "laurelled 
memory.” He died in consequence of a wound rec^eived while 
fighting for the cause of freedom, in the late war. — A. B. 


166 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND, 


And underneath, upon the lifeless front 

Of that drear cliff, a simple name is traced ; 

Fit type of him, who, famishing and gaunt, 

But with a rocky purpose in his soul. 

Breasted the gathering snows, 

Clung to the drifting floes; 

By want beleaguered, and by winter chased. 
Seeking the brother lost amid that frozen waste. 

Not many months ago we greeted him. 

Crowned with the icy honors of the North ; 
Across the land his hard- won fame went forth. 
And Maine’s deep woods were shaken limb by limb, 
His own mild Keystone State, sedate and prim. 
Burst from decorous quiet as he came. 

Hot Southern lips, with eloquence aflame. 
Sounded his triumph. Texas, wild and grim, 
Proflfered its horny hand. The large-lunged West, 
From out its giant breast. 

Yelled its frank welcome. And from main to main, 
Jubilant to the sky, 

Thundered the mighty cry. 

Honor to Kane ! 

In vain — in vain beneath his feet we flung 
The reddening roses ! All in vain we poured 


LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


167 


The golden wine, and round the shining board 
Sent the toast circling, till the rafters rung 
With the thrice-tripled honors of the feast! 
Scarce the buds wilted and the voices ceased, 
Ere the pure light that sparkled in his eyes, 
Bright as auroral fires in southern skies. 

Faded and faded. And the brave young heart 
That the relentless Arctic winds had robbed 
Of all its vital heat, in that long quest 
For the lost captain, now within his breast 
More and more faintly throbbed. 

His was the victory ; but as his grasp 
Closed on the laurel-crown with eager clasp. 
Death launched a whistling dart : 

And ere the thunders of applause were done. 

His bright eyes closed forever on the sun 1 
Too late — too late the splendid prize he won 
In the Olympic race of Science and of Art 1 

Like to some shattered berg that, pale and lone, 
Drifts from the white North to a Tropic zone. 
And in the burning day 
Wastes, peak by peak, away. 

Till, on some rosy even. 

It dies with sunlight blessing it, — so he 
Tranquilly floated to a southern sea. 

And melted into heaven. 


168 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 

He needs no tears who lived a noble life ! 

We will not weep for him who died so well; 

But we will gather round the hearth, and tell 
The story of his strife. 

Such homage suits him well; 

Better tfiSh funeral pomp or passing belli 

What tale of peril and self-sacrifice 1 
Prisoned amid the fastnesses of ice. 

With hunger howling o’er the wastes of snow 1 
Night lengthening into months ; the ravenous floe 
Crunching the massive ships, as the white hear 
Crunches his prey. The insufficient share 
Of loathsome food ; 

The lethargy of famine ; the despair 
Urging to labor, nervelessly pursued, 

Toil done with skinny arms, and faces hued 
Like pallid masks, while dolefully behind 
Glimmered the fading embers of a mind 1 
That awful hour, when through the prostrate band 
Delirium stalked, laying his burning hand 
Upon the ghastly foreheads of the crew. 

The whispers of rebellion, faint and few 
At first, but deepening ever till they grew 
Into black thoughts of murder. Such the throng 
Of horrors round the Hero. High the song 


LEGENDS OF FA TRY- LAND. 1G9 

Should be, that hymns the noble part he played ; 
Sinking himself, yet ministering aid 
To all around him. By a mighty will 
Living defiant of the wants that kill. 

Because his death would seal his comrades’ fate ; 

Cheering, with ceaseless and inventive skill. 
Those Polar winters, dark and desolate. 

Equal to every trial, every fate, 

He stands until spring, tardy with relief, 

Unlocks the icy gate, 

And the pale prisoners thread the world once more^ 

To the steep cliffs of Greenland' s pastoral shore^ 
Bearing their dying chief! 

Time was, when he should gain his spurs of gold 
From royal hands, who wooed the knightly state; 
The kneU of old formalities is tolled, 

And the world’s knights are now self-consecrate. 
No grander episode doth chivalry hold 
In all its annals, back to Charlemagne, 

Than that long vigil of unceasing pain, 

Faithfully kept, through hunger and through cold, 

By the good Christian knight, Elisha Kane. 

Lewis read well, and when he had finished the 

poem, a reverent silence marked the impression 

16 


170 LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 


it had made, until Charles, winking away the 
moisture that dimmed his eyes, said, in a low, 
earnest tone: ^ 

It is worth while to die, if we can have such 
verses written about us afterward.” 

“If we deserve to have such verses written, 
you mean,” said Mr. Howard, smiling. 

“ Of course, papa,” returned Charles, proudly. 
“I would scorn to possess what I had not de- 
served^ 

“‘I have learned to prize the quiet lightning deed, 
More than the applauding thunder at its heels, 
Which men call Fame ! ’ ” * 
quoted Lewis. 

“One of the best lessons humanity can learn,” 
observed Mr. Howard. 

“ Mamma,” said Cecilia, “ do you remember 
Longfellow’s ‘ Lady with the Lamp ’ ? ” 

“Yes, indeed,” replied Mrs. Howard. 
Belisantes and Melonias of the chivalries ages, 
are nobly represented by Florence Nightingale, 
our own Miss Dix, the late Miss Anna Ross, 


* Alexander Smith. 


, LEGENDS OF FAIRY-LAND. 171 

and a host of others. And here,” she continued, 
taking up the book she had laid down, ^'is a 
beautiful passage very much*^ the point. I 
will read it to you : 

‘Heroism is not out of date, though the outer 
garb and vesture of it are changed. 

"^Heroism, to those who consider it rightly, 
it is a far nobler thing now, when it is no longer 
a sound to mark the glowing excitement, the 
lofty enthusiasm which fights and struggles in 
the brilliant noonday, gilded by the sun ; but 
^ the slow, silent struggle of the soul, in solitude, 
darkness, and obscurity, against the heavy, wea- 
rying, every day evils of every-day life ; sacri- 
fices of the hourly and the small — but the sum 
of which is — existence; not offered in the fervor 
of a moment, but given, as it were, by inches — 
the heroic devotion to others, and those others 
not even worthy, far from grateful, too often, re- 
if^ul. The heroism combining patience, per- 
severance, endurance, gentleness, and disinterest- 
edness — that is the heroism of our day.’ * 

‘•'And that, my daughter,” continued Mrs. 


* Mrs. Marsh. 


172 LEGENDS OF FA TRY-LAND. 


Howard, closing the book and looking at Cecilia, 
who, with glistening eyes and varying color, 
had listened to her mother’s reading, — that is 
the heroism proper to woman.” 

"Ah, mamma ! ” exclaimed Cecilia, " it is not 
so easy as I thought it was to be a heroine.” 

"It is difficult, but not impossible , replied her 
mother. 



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JINGLES AND JOYS 

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739 ^ 74* Broadway, New York. 


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JUL -3 1945 








